Del. Jeff Ghrist Has Online Battle with Freedom Caucus
The Maryland Freedom Caucus has been the center of controversy this session.
The six-member caucus received public criticism for voting against HB 393, which would require insurance companies to provide scalp cooling systems for chemotherapy patients.
The Maryland Freedom Caucus was under fire again, but this time from a fellow Republican.
Members of the Freedom Caucus (with the exception of Del. Lauren Arikan) voted against HB 355 Education – Sexual Abuse and Assault Awareness and Prevention Program – Human and Sex Trafficking and Delegate Jeff Ghrist called them out on social media.
“I am embarrassed for the House Freedom Caucus that they did not fight for the victims of child sex trafficking. Instead, they were virtue signaling about government mandates. SMH,” Ghrist wrote.
Del. Matt Morgan defended his vote and called out Ghrist and the other Republicans who voted for the bill.
“You know what’s truly embarrassing? RINOs who won’t vote NO on a bad bill just because of its title. Let’s be honest: this bill dictates curriculum for non-public schools. It’s a mandate for both public and non-public schools. Who was against the bill? The Maryland Association of Boards of Education, the State Board of Education, State Superintendents, and Anne Arundel County Schools,” Morgan wrote in a response post
“Think about that. Republicans like Delegate Ghrist are now to the LEFT of the education establishment. I am not condemning everyone who voted for the bill. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, why do Republicans like Delegate Ghrist spend more time condemning Maryland Freedom Caucus members than the party actively destroying our state? If he only wants to criticize conservatives, what is he even doing here?”
Ghrist’s anger might have resulted in a post from last week when The Freedom Caucus Facebook page share of House of Delegates floor video of Ghrist speaking in favor of another bill. HB 849 Child Care Scholarship Program – Freeze in Enrollment – Exceptions and Waitlist
“What is the proper role of government? It is NOT to create opportunity – it is to get out of the way so that people can flourish. Maryland is drowning in taxation. Every program the state provides has to be paid for by YOU, the taxpayers,” the post stated.
“We expect support for subsidized programs from the Maryland Democratic Party, but they find many bedfellows in our party here in Maryland. Spending other people’s money is not virtuous, letting people keep more of their own is.”
