A Pennsylvania Republican lawmaker said he was kicked off the state House floor for wearing an American flag jacket ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary.
Rep. Eric D’Avanzo was baffled Tuesday when House Speaker Joanna McClinton ruled his choice of clothing went against House rules and outrageously called the suit a “costume.”
“Kicked out for wearing a patriotic jacket? That’s right, it happened!” Davanzo posted on his Facebook page.
D’Avanzo, who represents Pennsylvania’s 58th District in Westmoreland County, stood out among his fellow lawmakers after he chose a red and white striped jacket — which he said his wife Rachel bought — and a star-shaped tie.
“I will never apologize for putting patriotism before politics,” D’Avanzo said. “We love our country. We love America, so I’m happy to wear this. I’m proud to wear this. I’m happy to wear this.”
Even lawmakers on the other side of the aisle agreed with D’Avanzo’s lawsuit.
“This is a very colorful jacket that the actor is wearing today,” said Rep. Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia). “I find it, my friend, very patriotic.”
“Everyone loved it,” D’Avanzo said. “They came up, people hugged me, shook my hand and said, ‘Hey, this is great.’”
Not everyone appreciated the attractive clothes that the representative wore, especially McClinton, the first black speaker of the House of Representatives in Pennsylvania.
House Whip Mike Schlossberg (D-Lehigh County) gave him an ultimatum to either lose the jacket or leave the floor, Paul said.
D’Avanzo claimed that a security guard in the room repeated the order just a few minutes later.
“She says it’s a costume… He said, yeah, it’s something you wouldn’t wear every day,” D’Avanzo said. “And I say, ‘Listen, I’ll wear this at home and I’ll wear it again.’
“America 250…it’s next weekend. Why don’t you wear it?”
McClinton’s office stuck to the decision to remove the pole despite the anger it sparked.
“House Democrats came to Harrisburg this week to do the hard work of passing a responsible budget for the benefit of all Pennsylvanians,” her office said. He told NBC News.
D’Avanzo responded to Democrats, and it came as lawmakers failed to pass the state’s budget on time for the fifth year in a row.
“We have an affordability crisis; people can’t afford things,” he added. WHP said.
“Instead of coming out here and doing people’s work, no, what are we focusing on? We’re focusing on bull issues like this jacket, right? There’s no reason at all.”
“This wasn’t a costume. This is something I truly believe in. I’m a patriot.”
D’Avanzo, the father of daughters Brianna and Brielle, first won election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2020, defeating Robert Brah Jr. by about 9,000 votes.
His margin of victory in 2022 against Ken Bach was slightly smaller — 7,335 — before he comprehensively defeated union nurse Sherri Rogers by more than 14,000 votes two years later.
He will face Rogers again next November in the 58th District, an electoral district that includes the former steel-making city of Monessen.
D’Avanzo was uncontested in the Republican primary this year.
During his six years in the House, he supported laws that support family-sustained jobs, improve infrastructure, and provide quality education for children.
He passed a law — Act No. 7 of 2022 — dedicating a portion of State Route 31 to John Berrand, who was killed in action in Vietnam in August 1967 — a little more than a year after he began his tour.
The Post has reached out to D’Avanzo’s office for comment.