New House Budget Chair Seeks 1983-Style Talks on Social Security

Rep. Jodey Arrington, a self-proclaimed “far-right ideological conservative” with a good relationship with Democrats, will chair the House Budget Committee, giving the Texan a key role in pushing for spending cuts and negotiating a debt-limit deal.

The House Republican Steering Committee elected Arrington (R-Texas) over Reps. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) and Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.) Monday evening, Smucker and Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) said.

House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) have spent months laying the groundwork.

(Photographer: Anna Moneymaker/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The slot was open because the ranking member from the last Congress, Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), made a successful bid to lead the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee.

Arrington has said Republicans should use an upcoming debt-limit deadline ...