(NECN: Jennifer Eagan, Concord, NH) – The feud on the floor of House Chamber at the New Hampshire State House began while lawmakers debated a bill requiring photo IDs for voting.
Manchester Republican Steve Vaillancourt made an inflammatory remark when he felt the House Speaker wasn’t giving another lawmaker their rightful chance to weigh in.
"When I said 'Sieg Heil,' it was simply a way of saying, 'Yes Mr. Speaker, your will be done,'" said Vaillancourt.
House Speaker Bill O'Brien ordered Vaillancourt to leave the chamber, and then the House voted to allow Vaillancourt back in - so long as he apologized.
Vaillancourt apologized four times before it was accepted. He says he did not mean for the remark to be Nazi reference, but understands how people feel.
"So I guess I apologize for using two offensive words," said Vaillancourt. "But the Speaker is a tyrant, let there be no doubt about it. So I think it brushed too closely to home for him."
"In no U.S. legislative body should any member look at the presiding officer and salute that officer with the words 'Seig Heil,'" said Speaker O'Brien.
Politics
Some of Vaillancourt’s fellow lawmakers – a few of whom fought in World War II – say there should be more decency on the house floor.
"We should be setting the example for how to treat one another in the real world," said NH Rep. J.R. Hoell.
