Three Republican House members -- Reps. Justin Amash, R-Mich., Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., and David Schweikert, R-Ariz. -- have been in the spotlight since getting booted from their committees this week. Many speculated that they were punished for being too conservative, but several other members have proposed a different reason: that the guys were just personally insufferable.

One member of the Steering Committee told Politico that the trio were "the most egregious a--holes" in the House Republican Conference. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga., also told the members that "the a--hole factor" was why the members lost their committee spots a remark that Westmoreland's spokeswoman Leslie Shedd later walked back. Westmoreland, Shedd said, later told her that "perhaps he should have said the obstinate factor instead and wanted me to reiterate that he did not and would not call another member of Congress an a--hole." Noted.

Sign Up for the Politics Today newsletter!

Please enter your email address below to begin receiving the Politics Today newsletter.

You must enter a valid email address in the field above!

Thank you for signing up for the Politics Today newsletter! You should receive your first newsletter very soon.

We're sorry, there was an error processing your newsletter signup. Please click here to visit our Newsletter Signup Center to register for this newsletter.