Labrador: Pew poll a big plus

The conservative Freedom Caucus has been flexing its muscles lately in the U.S. House of Representatives.

More Americans than ever now are aware of the Freedom Caucus, and Rep. Raul Labrador of Idaho — who helped found the renegade House group — is pleased with both results and recognition.

According to a recent poll conducted by the non-partisan Pew Research Center, 58 percent of U.S. citizens now have heard or read about the Freedom Caucus.

That number may have increased even more recently, as the roughly 40 members of the caucus stood firm against President Donald Trump’s first attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act — much to the annoyance of Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan.

Ryan and the Republican leadership now are working with the Freedom Caucus to write a health care bill that will pass a full House vote.

“The Freedom Caucus is clearly having an impact, as the Pew poll demonstrates,” Labrador told The Press on Wednesday. “The health care bill is the best example of that, but there are many others.”

Indeed, the Freedom Caucus has come a long way since Labrador and a few colleagues formed the group in January 2015.

Now the group has hit serious public awareness — among members of both parties.

The Pew poll, in fact, showed more Democrats (60 percent) were following the Freedom Caucus than Republicans (58 percent).

“When I helped found the Freedom Caucus over two years ago, my goal was to advance conservative policies in Congress,” said Labrador. “Specifically, I wanted to build a team of like-minded members so that we — as House Republicans — would be strong and united in keeping our promises to the American people.”

Labrador, who is widely assumed to be stepping away to run for governor of Idaho, nevertheless remains as passionate as ever about the Freedom Caucus — in which he often is the most powerful voice — and its overall goals.

“I am proud of the work the Freedom Caucus is doing, because it’s making a positive difference for Idaho and America,” Labrador said.

“With a new Republican president, this is an exciting time for conservatives and I have no doubt the influence of the Freedom Caucus will continue to grow.”

Certainly the Pew poll numbers reflect that, both in terms of support and fear.

While conservative Republicans are the most likely in their party (64 percent) to be aware of the Freedom Caucus and its sometimes critical stands in the House, there also were startling numbers among Democrats.

Only 53 percent of moderates in that party said they knew about the Freedom Caucus, but the number leaped to 70 percent among those describing themselves as liberal Democrats.

The only dark clouds over Labrador at the moment seem to be hovering close to home.

He was booed and jeered recently at town hall meetings in Nampa and Meridian, mostly when he voiced any support of Trump — and in particular when Labrador insisted there would be no signs of criminality in Trump’s tax returns.

Nationally, however, Labrador’s Freedom Caucus continues to make him look good — particularly inside the GOP.

Among Republicans quizzed in the Pew study, 59 percent approved of the Freedom Caucus.

That number was just 36 percent for Americans in general.