House GOP struggles to calm rebellion: 'Why the hell are we doing this?': Report

House Republicans are struggling to reconcile a GOP rebellion of conservative hardliners with moderately conservative congressmen.

The tension within the party was exposed in a Thursday meeting, two House Republicans told Politico. Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) were briefing a number of battleground Republicans on plans to support two conservative bills in the House, including one that would solidify limits on taxpayer funding for abortions. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) interjected at one point to express her frustration, and a heated exchange between GOP representatives followed.

“Why the hell are we doing this?” Mace fumed.

Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) then confronted Mace over her repeated television appearances in which she attacked other Republicans over their position on abortion. Mace argued that the party was losing the battle of public opinion over abortion and that the bill would add unpopular restrictions, according to Politico.

A January poll from Marist and the Knights of Columbus found that 60% of Americans oppose taxpayer funding for abortion. Notably, 61% of respondents described themselves as pro-abortion.