Rules chairman: Don’t mess with Texas

House Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas) took to the House floor Tuesday to defend his state, after a Florida lawmaker said Texas is “crazy.”

Tensions flared during a Monday House Rules Committee meeting to prepare an ObamaCare repeal bill, when Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) declared Texas is a “crazy state” and he “wouldn’t live there for all the tea in China.” Hastings refused to back down, saying “you will wait until hell freezes over” before he apologizes.

{mosads}Sessions was not present when Hastings insulted his state, but the comment infuriated fellow Rules Committee member Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas).

Sessions then publicly defended Burgess during House floor debate early Tuesday afternoon.

“I want to defend the gentleman, Dr. Burgess, a member of our committee, who was attacked last night,” Sessions said.

Then Sessions made it clear of the course of a four-minute floor speech: Don’t mess with Texas.

“I want to stand up for my state of Texas,” Sessions said. “I stand in defense of Texas, although Texas I don’t think really needs much defense.”

“Texans are a proud people. And we’ve been a proud people since the days of the Alamo,” Sessions added. “While some people may think that limited government and empowering families is ‘crazy.’ I disagree.”

Once Sessions finished, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) jokingly suggested that members take a trip down to the Lone Star State.

“I want to thank the gentleman for the wonderful commercial for Texas. We all should visit Texas,” McGovern said.