California Democratic Assemblyman Rodger Hernandez really doesn’t want to be challenged.
That’s why he lunged toward his Republican colleague, Matthew Harper, and turned off his microphone.
The incident took place Wednesday during debate over legislation that would increase the state’s minimum wage to $11 in 2016 and $13 in 2017, according to The Blaze.
Harper was incensed that Hernandez, chairman of the Labor and Employment committee “cut off a witness testifying mid-sentence.”
“Blocking discussion in this manner is unfair, undemocratic and soils the decorum of the Assembly. I was sent here to represent the concerns of the voters of my district and chairman Hernandez shut down my ability to speak for who I represent,” according to Harper.
“Mr. Chairman, the cutoff on debate is completely embarrassing,” Harper said after the vote, according to the video.
“You’re out of order, you’re out of order, you’re out of order,” Hernandez replied. “Turn his mic off.”
“You can’t be yelling in this committee like that,” Hernandez said.
The chairman didn’t appreciate Harper’s opinion and after reaching over another human being to turn off Harper’s microphone, Hernandez ordered sergeants to seize the mic.
“Sergeants, sergeants, please remove the mic,” Hernandez said.
A man could then be seen trying to remove the microphone from the desk in front of Harper.
After the incident, Hernandez “acknowledged his oversight to Mr. Harper and expressed regret,” Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins spokesman John Casey tells the Sacramento Bee.
“The Speaker believes that all members of the Assembly have the right to ask questions and voice their opinions on legislative matters while in committee and on the floor,” Casey says. “The Speaker doesn’t expect any similar incidents to occur going forward.”
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