Quote:Michael Steele thinks House Speaker John Boehner needs to keep closer tabs on Sen. Ted Cruz.

The former Republican National Committee chairman on Monday poked fun at reports that some House Republicans changed their minds on crucial border legislation last week after meeting with Cruz, the Texas Republican and tea party icon.

“For John Boehner, whenever any of his members says, ‘Hey, I’m about to have pizza and beer with Ted Cruz,’ he should be concerned,” Steele joked. “Really look at the calendar and see if there’s a vote coming up,” he said, adding that Cruz “undermined” GOP leaders.

Steele criticized congressional Republicans for their failure to pass the original House border bill last Thursday, calling it a “sad display” for the GOP.

“I think it was a very sad display for the party,” Steele said on MSNBC. “I think it showed not just inept but weak leadership.”

Steele said that the new Republican leadership team of Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana “can’t count,” noting the House’s canceled vote on the border bill Thursday after realizing it didn’t have the requisite votes....