Connecticut House Speaker calls out Republican over pro-ICE jacket before emergency fund vote

The House of Representatives voted Thursday to continue an emergency fund to offset federal funding cuts, but not before a discussion of decorum.  

Rep. Matt Ritter (D-Speaker) started the proceedings by reminding members that they’re not to display political messages inside the chamber while the House is in session.  

He was responding to Rep. Cara Pavalock-D’Amato (R-Bristol), who was wearing a jacket on opening day with a message of support for federal immigration agents.  

“My advice to everybody out there is don’t test me on this,” Ritter told reporters before the House session started.  

Ritter noted punishment could include censure, impeachment, or even expulsion, although he said his intent Thursday was simply to warn people not to violate the rule.  

Rep. Vincent Candelora (R-Minority Leader) said the jacket was in response to comments from Gov. Ned Lamont (D-Connecticut) that he felt were also too politically charged.  

Lamont said during his speech, “ICE… everywhere you go, uninvited, violence follows. Go home, we’re keeping Connecticut safe without you.”  

Candelora said he wants all leaders to tone down the rhetoric.  

“I wish the governor had checked himself before he made those statements,” Candelora said. “Any time you speak in absolutes, the way he did, it’s really offensive.”  

Pavalock-D’Amato told reporters she didn’t regret her decision.  

“I respect the speaker, definitely, but again the governor has the floor, and we have – there’s a way for us to speak during that speech, so I don’t have any regrets whatsoever,” she said.  

After talking with reporters, Pavalock-D’Amato met with Capitol police to discuss a threatening text message she received on Thursday.  

Ritter said he wanted to make it clear no one is allowed to have political messages in the chamber, adding he’s told House Democrats to remove pins, buttons, and other items that violate the rule.  

The bill passed with a 97-48 party-line vote, clearing the three-fifths majority required under the fiscal guardrails to create an account outside the budget with surplus fund money.  

It’s now headed to Lamont, who has voiced his support, after garnering a 28-8 vote in the Senate on Wednesday.  

The bill continues Lamont’s control over $313 million remaining in an emergency fund lawmakers created during a special session back in November.  

They originally set aside $500 million to respond to federal cuts, with Lamont declaring a fiscal emergency that ended when the legislative session began Wednesday.  

Lamont extended that declaration, but Republicans say the legislature should reassert its power of the purse now that the session has started.  

They also questioned the need for the emergency fund, calling it a slush fund for a governor seeking re-election.  

“We are under very different circumstances, our SNAP benefits, our LIHEAP, our government programs from the federal level are funded through September, so this fund is wholly unnecessary,” Candelora said.  

Democrats feared that more federal cuts could happen without minimal notice. They argued that Lamont is able to respond more quickly than the legislature.  

“Right now, when we worry about childcare, we worry about healthcare, we worry about housing, multiple things – homeless, food share, we’ve got to have a quick turnaround,” Rep. Toni Walker (D-New Haven) said.