Punished GOP lawmaker: ‘I vote my convictions’

A House GOP lawmaker who was ousted from the Republican whip team says he isn’t upset with his leaders. 

The Hill spoke with ousted whip team member Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) shortly after news broke that House GOP leaders kicked off three members from the whip team for opposing a procedural resolution on the fast-track trade bill last Thursday.

{mosads}Asked about the decision of House GOP leaders to punish him, the conservative lawmaker said, “I think that they’ve extended every courtesy to me because sometimes I vote not always with the leadership, I vote my convictions. … But the case here is I have no animus or recrimination toward leadership; in their position I might have done the same thing.”

GOP Reps. Cynthia Lummis (Wyo.) and Steve Pearce (N.M.) were also removed from the whip team for voting no on the rule, which narrowly passed last week. The underlying trade bill, however, remains stuck in Congress.