A really strange thing happened to House Republicans Wednesday: The Freedom Caucus apparently conceded their favorite weapon—government shutdowns. Just like that. Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, who chairs the far-right caucus, announced at a press conference that they would accept the top-line budget of $1.59 trillion as agreed to by President Joe Biden and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy in May.
“It's still too much for many of us but was agreed to around Memorial Day was this [Fiscal Responsibility Act] number of $1.59 trillion,” Perry said. “Most of the House voted for it. Most of the Senate voted for it. That's where we have to be, don't be adding stuff on to it.”
