HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHP) — A Pennsylvania representative arrived on the House floor wearing an American Flag-themed suit jacket on Tuesday. He says he was told to either take off the jacket or leave the floor.
Rep. Eric Davanzo (R-Westmoreland) said Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton (D-Delaware/Philadelphia) called his jacket “a costume.”
“This wasn’t a costume,” Davanzo said. “This is something that I truly believe in. I’m a patriot.”
Davanzo chose to leave the floor, criticizing House Democrats for worrying about his outfit rather than the state’s issues.
“We have an affordability crisis; people can’t afford stuff,” Davanzo said. “Instead of coming out here and doing the people’s work, no, what are we focused on? We’re focused on bulls— issues like this jacket, right? No reason whatsoever.”
A spokesperson for Speaker McClinton said House Democrats look forward to Republicans “joining us in the solemn obligation to govern.”
“The House Democrats came to Harrisburg this week to do the serious work of passing a responsible budget to benefit all Pennsylvanians,” the spokesperson said. “Some House Republicans showed up in costumes while the Senate Republicans took an early holiday vacation.”
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The drama comes as lawmakers failed to pass Pennsylvania’s budget on time for the fifth straight year.