The Brief: After the Obamacare fight, Ted Poe resigns from Freedom Caucus

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Tribune today

U.S. Rep. Ted Poe resigns from Freedom Caucus
U.S. Rep. Ted Poe resigned his membership from the Freedom Caucus, a hardline conservative group that helped derail the Obamacare overhaul bill.

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At feisty town hall, Culberson stays course on Obamacare repeal
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Two state lawmakers say they'd like to question Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission officials about a Texas Tribune investigation that highlighted out-of-state trips the state liquor regulators took to lavish resorts as far away as Hawaii.

GOP plan to overhaul health care falls apart
The American Health Care Act was abruptly pulled Friday ahead of a scheduled vote on the legislation. 

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What you need to know

On Friday, U.S. House Republicans pulled the American Health Care Act from a floor vote — a move that unraveled a long-time GOP promise to voters: to repeal and replace the 2010 Affordable Care Act, former President Barack Obama's 2010 healthcare law. Here's what happened: 

• Both moderate Republicans and hard-line conservatives helped sink the AHCA. "I want to support him [Trump] but I can't support a bill that does more damage than good," said U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, one of the most outspoken Texan congressman against the bill. 
• Democrats were unified in opposition and said the GOP healthcare bill was doomed from the start. "I'm not surprised at what just happened, said U.S. Marc Veasey, a Democrat from Fort Worth. "It was a mess from the get-go." 
• And U.S. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble, resigned from the group that helped derail the American Health Care Act on Sunday. Poe said in a statement he was leaving the right-wing group because it would allow him "to be a more effective member of Congress and advocate for the people of Texas." 

What we're reading

(Links below lead to outside websites; paywall content noted with $) 

How a secret Freedom Caucus pact brought down Obamacare repeal, Politico

City of Laredo issues cease and desist letter to Lyft, Laredo Morning Times 

'Hello, Bob': Trump called my cellphone to say that health-care bill was dead, The Washington Post ($)

Comptroller: Texas economy is fine, New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung ($)

Hundreds at Texas Capitol gather to demand resources for public schools, Austin American-Statesman ($)

18 Texas sheriffs step up to replace Harris County in Trump's deportation push, The Houston Chronicle ($)

For your calendar

Join us on Tuesday, March 28, at KLRU's Studio 6A for a special screening of Beyond the Wall, The Texas Tribune's short documentary that explores the state's immigration issues through the eyes of undocumented immigrants, border patrol agents and a borderland rancher.

Photo of the day

Local dignitaries and U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, form a human chain on the International Bridge between Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila and Del Rio, Texas during a Border Unity Rally on March 25. Photo by Marjorie Kamys Cotera. See more photos on our Instagram account. 

Quote to note

"It’s like we’re on a runaway train and we’re past the point of no return. If this deal fails, the train won’t be able to come to a measured halt. It will gain steam as it careens off the rails."

— Chris Brown, Houston City Controller, about pensions via TribTalk

The Brief is written and compiled by your morning news baristas, Bobby Blanchard and Cassi Pollock. If you have feedback or questions, please email thebrief@texastribune.org. We're a nonprofit newsroom, and count on readers like you to help power newsletters like this. Did you like what you read today? Show your appreciation by becoming a member or making a donation today.