GOP Rep. Flake laughs off idea of congressional action over NFL ref errors

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) on Tuesday admitted that the replacement NFL referees who are driving football fans crazy across the country "need help," but laughed off the idea that Congress needs to respond in some way.

"That's always been so pathetic, Congress inserting themselves in steroid stuff and everything else," Flake told the Karie & Chuck show on KTAR radio. "That's not what I see happening. I see the NFL solving it by themselves, but I hope they do soon."

Flake, who is running for the Senate this year, added "Amen to that" when one of the hosts said he hopes there is no congressional action.

Flake said he was watching the very end of the Monday night game in which the replacement refs watched a Green Bay Packer defender intercept a ball in the endzone, and called it as a touchdown for the Seattle Seahawks. While a Seahawk receiver appeared to have his hand on the ball during the play, the decision was almost universally viewed as a botched call.

"My goodness," Flake said. "Talk about a comedy of errors, from the missed offensive interference call to how in the world you could see that as a catch for a touchdown. I just don't know.

"Boy, these guys need help, badly," he added.

Flake also zinged the Senate for failing to pass a budget in more than three years, and said that failure is partly why deficit spending is so high.

"Somebody pointed out the other day -- this will give you some reference - the last time the Senate passed a budget, Apple's iPad had not been invented yet," Flake said. "We're now on the third generation iPad, and no Senate budget."

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