Republican congressman Tim Burchett walked out of a House committee meeting on Thursday after accusing members of his own party of making backroom deals with Democrats that blocked key amendments to a bipartisan infrastructure bill. The Tennessee representative said he was “disgusted” by both parties’ alleged arrangements and criticized the GOP for allegedly compromising with Democrats despite controlling the majority. Online, his frustrations appeared to resonate with some members of the public, many of whom shared his criticism of the Republican party.
The dispute centers around the Build America 250 Act, a proposal advanced by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that seeks to improve U.S. infrastructure, including public transit, bridges, and safety programs.
Before leaving the committee meeting, Burchett warned Republicans they risk falling into the minority if they continue operating this way. He stated, “I realize a deal has already been cut. But I want to warn us, warn our party, we’re in the majority and we’re not acting like it. And we’ll be in the minority once again because of this kind of activity.”
‘They Cut the Deal a Long Time Ago’
Burchett later shared a video on X doubling down on why he left the meeting in protest. He claimed the nearly 1,000-page infrastructure bill had been handed out only days before the markup session, leaving a small window for lawmakers to review it. He also said several proposed amendments failed, including some that were voted against by Republican committee chairman Sam Graves.
The congressman said he was frustrated by what he described as a lack of transparency from both parties, which he claimed shut many lawmakers out of the decision-making process. “They cut the deal a long time ago before many of us have access to it,” Burchett stated in the video. “We got a few amendments in there, but not what we really needed. Anyway, I’m disgusted with our own party.”
According to Burchett, members of his own party later accused him of not being a “team player” because he “wouldn’t go along.”
What People Are Saying About the Tennessee Rep’s Remarks
On X, many netizens agreed with the Burchett and said Republican lawmakers have failed to use their majority effectively. “Why do Republicans even bother to run for Congress if they just hand all of the power to the Democrats? What is the point?” one person wrote. Another said, “I’ve just about had it with the republicans. I seriously don’t see a point in electing another Republican congressman.” Someone else added, “They’re not listening to the American voters.”
Some commenters called for more accountability and wanted the identities of Republicans involved in the alleged deals Burchett referenced exposed. “Start exposing these Republicans behind the scenes and let the constituents hold them accountable,” one comment read. Another chimed in, “Name them! We want to know who’s selling the American people out and what deals they’re making!”
However, a few people were not fully convinced by Burchett’s reaction during the meeting. One person dismissed the incident entirely, writing, “All theater. He was scripted to storm out and put on a show of ‘defiance’ for us peasants to clap and cheer at.”
So far, Burchett has continued defending his decision to leave the meeting, maintaining that what both sides did was “wrong.”
