Things got awkward during a closed-door meeting of GOP members of the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday morning.

Outgoing ranking member Jerry Lewis (Calif.) asked attendees which of them would consider voting in favor of legislation repealing the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, HOH hears. Only Rep. Jeff Flake raised his hand, and his response prompted some ribbing from one colleague.

Rep. Bill Young (Fla.) later poked fun at the Arizona Republican, a source says.

“Later in the meeting, after a pep talk about working as a team, former-Chairman Young made a comment about [how] ‘No one better flake out’ to a few awkward chuckles and some squirming younger Members, as Jeff Flake was seated about six seats away,” our spy says.

But an aide with knowledge of the meeting argues things aren’t as they appear.

Young spokesman Harry Glenn says, “It was a completely unrelated comment.”

An aide echoed this, saying, “Mr. Young is not the kind of person who would intentionally use a pun like that.”