Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, was caught on a hot mic during Wednesday’s meeting using profanities toward Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL).
The Democrat’s comment came after Mast offered amendments about vaccine mandates in the airline industry that DeFazio believed were “a little bit off base.”
The Transportation Committee Chair ruled me out of order & told me I was wasting everyone’s time for offering amendments to prohibit vaccine mandates.
— Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) October 27, 2021
I don’t think stopping an unconstitutional order that is going to cost Americans their jobs & livelihoods is a waste of time. pic.twitter.com/WEx1tQxhUY
The chair of the committee, DeFazio noted that Mast's amendment would bar the FAA from requiring vaccinations.
DeFazio noted the FAA isn't mandating vaccinations. Instead, private air carriers have chosen to do so to protect employees and customers, DeFazio said, asking rhetorically whether Mast supports a private company's right to do so.
Mast tried to answer the question. DeFazio didn't want to hear from him.
"You've already wasted time and you'll waste more," DeFazio told Mast when the Florida congressman asked if DeFazio was asking him a question.
The congressman from Springfield, Oregon, then made impassioned comments about vaccination, noting that there are people who oppose vaccines and masks.
"We've got a lot of whacked out people in this country that are killing people, plain and simple," DeFazio said. "In 3 counties in the southern part of my district, deep red counties, vaccines rates of 40%, people have died waiting to get into the ICU."
Mast and Rep. Kaiali'i Kahele, D-Hawaii - who is a licensed commercial airline pilot - argue about vaccinations before Kahele yields back to DeFazio, the chair.
DeFazio then recognizes Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, who yields time back to Mast. (KCBY)
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And that’s when DeFazio appeared to lose his patience, uttering “Oh, you f***ing a**hole.”
While reports note that it’s not entirely clear whether the comment was directed toward Mast or Young, Mast and others believe it was to him.
.@RepBrianMast plays a hot mic of @RepPeterDeFazio calling him an "f-ing a-hole." "I just want to say thank you for the compliment," Mast replies. What a time to be alive, you guys!
— JessicaWehrman (@JessicaWehrman) October 27, 2021
"I certainly apologize to the gentleman, but if he considers a compliment, I'll leave it in place," @RepPeterDeFazio replies.
— JessicaWehrman (@JessicaWehrman) October 27, 2021
DeFazio also issued a statement about the hot mic moment.
“I get passionate when it comes to protecting jobs and worker safety and I call it like I see it," he said. "I was fighting for a bipartisan bill that protects the jobs of Federal Aviation Administration workers from government shutdowns and Congressman Mast was trying to derail the Committee’s work with multiple anti-vax amendments that put aviation worker jobs, health, and safety at risk.”
Republicans took issue with the lack of civility.
???? this is how some Democrats speak in committee… <Sound on only if you are 18 or older> https://t.co/VtV6Ut5gUH
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) October 27, 2021
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