The Award for Worst Argument Defending the Budget . . .

. . . goes to Rep. Jeb Hensarling for his astounding claim on the Christian wisdom of cutting programs for the poor:

[M]any Republicans in Congress with ties to religious conservatives voted for the spending cuts and disagreed that the government should prioritize aiding the poor and marginalized.

"I believe the 'least of these' is my daughter, who's 4 years old, and my son, who's 2 years old, and all of those not born," Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, said. "I believe it's unfair to saddle them with debt way into the future."

Aside from the dubious proposition that the children of a congressman should be treated as "the least of these," it's a bit misleading to suggest that generously funding programs for the poor and maintaining fiscal responsibility are mutually exclusive public policies.

Rob