Schock, Gabbard talk Congressional Future Caucus


They appeared together in a joint interview that aired Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."

"Right now, our leadership on both sides of the aisle in both chambers are a bit challenged at being leaders because they’re so concerned about their ideological bases," said Schock, of Illinois. "Both Democrat and Republican leaders right now are worried about being right-flanked and left-flanked out by the respective bases, so they’re afraid to be what their title says, a leader."

Gabbard, of Hawaii, said the Future Caucus acknowledges there will always be differences. "The politics are always going to be there; that’s a fact," she said.

Schock said the passage of the budget deal this month was evidence that bipartisan negotiations outside of leadership are most successful. If House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) had negotiated the same deal, Schock said, it would not have passed.

"Had there not already been a coalition ... it never would have passed," he said.