Republican stammers while pushing for budget he called 'unserious' and 'disappointing'

Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX) admitted pushing for a budget bill that he earlier had called "unserious" and "disappointing."

During a Wednesday House Rules Committee hearing, Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO) forced Arrington, the Budget Committee chair, to admit that he was advocating for the House to bring the Senate's budget bill for a vote despite criticizing it.

"I'm understanding this, right? So the resolution that you are here to testify in support of, you have described as unserious and disappointing, right?" Neguse asked. "This is the bill that you want our colleagues to vote for."

"That's correct," Arrington replied. "What I would tell you is the Senate's attempt at matching the balanced budget resolution of the House fell far short, which was disappointing."

"And that bill is a bill you described days ago as unserious and disappointing, right?" Neguse pressed.

"No, I don't dispute those words," Arrington admitted. "In fact, I love every time you say it, I want to say amen. Inside, my Southern Baptist part of me wants to shout hallelujah."

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Neguse argued Arrington should be voting with Democrats against the bill "if that's the case."

"You blast this bill as unserious and disappointing and as increasing the deficit, blowing up the deficit, $5.8 trillion in new costs," the Democrat noted. "Then you make the case that, well, in fact, there are instructions that the House has dictated and, therefore, that should ameliorate anybody's concerns about this bill. But, of course, those instructions are not binding. So I don't get it."

"You're expressing the concerns that I expressed, I think, very accurately," Arrington agreed.

President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) have urged the House to pass the Senate's version of the budget by the end of the week despite a rift within the Republican Party.

Watch the video below from the House Rules Committee or click here.