OLYMPIA, WA – A Republican state lawmaker in Washington won’t be allowed back in the House chamber this session following his latest outburst during a legislative debate.
Rep. Jeremie Dufault, R-Selah, will be participating remotely in the last three days after his latest verbal disruption proved to be “the last straw” for House leaders.
“What I did was a breach of decorum. I accept the consequences of my action,” Dufault said in a statement Friday. “But I will also continue to fight for my constituents and stand up to the tyranny of the majority when needed.”
Dufault, who represents the 15th Legislative District in central Washington, has been rebuked several times in the course of the 105-day session for making comments in floor debates that run afoul of House decorum.
On Thursday, at the outset of debate on a highly controversial bill concerning the rights of public school students and their parents, Democrats denied a Republican lawmaker’s motion to reject the version passed by the Senate for not comporting with House rules.
When the presiding speaker, Rep. Tarra Simmons, D-Bremerton, issued the ruling, Dufault leapt up and angrily shouted his disagreement.
“It was the last straw. It was more intense,” House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, D-West Seattle said Friday. “A lot of members were anxious about his mental state and whether that could be a physical threat.”
Lawmakers in both parties said privately that at that moment, they feared Dufault might be armed and something worse might occur. Dufault said in an interview Thursday, he has a permit to carry a concealed weapon but had no weapons on the floor.
Following the episode, floor proceedings in the House paused for about two to three hours, and Washington State Patrol officers increased their presence in the chamber.
In the House, the Speaker can remove any person creating a disturbance or engaging in disorderly conduct in the chamber. Fitzgibbon said barring Dufault for the rest of the session was a mutual decision with leaders of the House Republican caucus.
Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, declined requests for comment Thursday. On Friday, a spokesperson sent an email saying Stokesbary “is not going to comment on internal caucus discussions.”
Dufault said Thursday night he learned of the ban in a text from his caucus leader. He said he was working virtually from an office in the legislative building.
“I will always speak passionately. I will always speak directly,” he said. “I believe that my tone is appropriate and measured.”
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