Representative Angie Nixon was reprimanded by the House Rules and Ethics Committee on Thursday for her loud protest on the House floor last month that disrupted a vote on new congressional district maps.
Nixon, a Jacksonville Democrat, was not given an opportunity to speak before the panel before it approved the formal reprimand on a voice vote, but she did issue a statement to the committee.
“While every member has the right to vigorous debate and dissent, that right does not extend to the active disruption of the legislative process,” the reprimand states. “Intense personal feelings on an issue are never a justification for conduct on the floor that violates House rules.
Legislative decorum must be maintained, as it is the foundation upon which civil governance rests.”
The reprimand from the committee, which stops short of a censure from the entire House, is a rare disciplinary action for a member.
Nixon defended her actions, which included using a pink megaphone – matching her bright pink outfit – to shout about the “illegal” and “unconstitutional” new congressional maps ahead of the April 29 vote.
