Founder says Tea Party Caucus to be ‘receptacle’ for grass-roots movement

Tea Party Caucus to be ‘receptacle’ for movement

WASHINGTON — Rep. Michele Bachmann says she founded the Tea Party Caucus so it could be a “receptacle” for the views of average citizens — not to push an agenda.

Flanked by about six members of Congress and a handful of self-professed Tea Party members, Bachmann, a Minnesota Republican, talked to reporters Wednesday after the first meeting of the caucus.

She says Congress is not listening to the Tea Party movement and her caucus is designed to clear the way so that members can. Bachmann says the just-formed caucus has 24 members, including the third-ranking GOP member of the House, Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana. She says she also hopes Democrats will join the caucus.

House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio has declined to join the caucus.