Ryan's 'anti-terror' legislation

Freedom Caucus will oppose Ryan's 'anti-terror' legislation

By Rachael Bade and John Bresnahan

The House Freedom Caucus plans to oppose the House GOP "anti-terrorism" package, marking another setback for Speaker Paul Ryan as he tries to muster support for a legislative response to the Orlando massacre.

The ultra-conservative group, known for being a thorn in leadership's side and for its move last year to oust ex-Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), discussed the Republican package Tuesday night and decided to come out against it., GOP sources say.

Now they're planning to announce their group-wide opposition during the weekly House Republican conference meeting because the package's new gun restrictions — aimed at barring suspected terrorists from buying guns — don't go far enough to protect gun owner's rights. They also believe that Homeland Security Department provisions in the measure aren't strong enough to defeat terrorism and beef up national security.

"Our members were all opposed to it," said Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chairman of the Freedom Caucus, heading into the closed-door meeting on Wednesday.

"Our side whipped together something in the short term because of political pressure. But they shouldn't have done that," added Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.) "There is a reason you have committees and regular order, to put together bills and policies that won't harm the American people. And this would. No one wants guns in the hands of terrorists but this bill has fundamental problems."

Ryan is already struggling to defuse a tense situation with Democrats on gun legislation. The left wants votes on their own gun control proposals and are threatening to stage another "sit in" if they don't get one.

But opposition from the Freedom Caucus underscores that Ryan still has some work to do on his own party.

Just yesterday, GOP leaders decided to postpone the gun vote amid Republican objections over amendments and concerns about rewarding Democrats for their daylong gun control "sit-in" on the House floor. Democrats, as part of the vote series, will get a procedural motion to recommit on their gun control ideas.

Roll calls on the matter had been expected Wednesday. Republicans now say they hope to take up the legislation by the end of the week — after they discuss the matter at Wednesday's conference.

The package would require the Justice Department to prove within 72 hours of a gun purchase that there is "probable cause" that an individual is involved in terrorism, thereby blocking the purchase. The Senate already rejected a similar pitch by Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas). The bill would also mandate the Homeland Security Department to create an office to counter "radicalization" of American citizens by Islamic extremists and report its plan for doing so to Congress. And it would require an annual review of the terror "watch list" maintained by the FBI.