Tea Party Threat Doesn’t Stop House Freshmen

Some tea party leaders have warned House Republicans that they better not vote for the budget agreement congressional leaders negotiated last week. If the congressmen do, the tea party leaders warn, they’re likely to face tea party-backed opponents in primaries next year. But Republican freshmen in the House, many elected with tea party support themselves, aren’t frightened by the threats, The Hill reports.

“It’s not that I’m not worried about them. And I would like to be all things to all people, but if you try to do that, you’re nothing to anybody. So I’m more inclined to just vote yes and move this in the right direction,” said Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., a freshman supported strongly by tea party activists in his district.