February 6, 2024

Speaker McCluskie,

On behalf of the House Republican caucus, we are deeply disturbed by your decision to prevent the families of the victims killed and kidnapped by Hamas terrorists to be recognized on the floor of the House of Representatives. Your decision allowed a few activists to silence the voices of those who were victims of terrorism. The behavior of extreme members of the Majority caucus stifled the ability for the House Members to hear the voices and stories of families who traveled here from Israel in our own House chamber.

These families were prohibited from being acknowledged out of concern that Legislators might “embarrass” them with their behavior. We take extreme offense to the implication that you “did not have assurances that members on both sides of the aisle would rise to the occasion.” Let the record be clear that the concern lies entirely with members of your caucus. Repeated, aggressive Anti-Semitic statements and acts from Democratic State Representatives have entirely come from your side of the aisle. This prevalent behavior from select members of the Majority has been allowed to persist due to the lack of accountability for their conduct. While you are quick to punish members of our caucus for simply exercising their First Amendment rights in a way you do not like, Anti-Semitism is handled with kid gloves.

As for our caucus, every Republican legislator was present for the proceedings on the Senate floor, supporting our colleagues on both sides of the aisle and treating them with respect and dignity. It is out of line to attempt to blame our members for the actions of those in your caucus. We will always stand with our Jewish colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, as they endure this toxic and divisive environment. After all the hate, these members still show up to the Capitol each and every day to represent their constituents.

When speaking out against kidnapping and murder has become a controversial subject, it is a sign that something is extremely wrong with our Democratic-controlled House chamber.

Sincerely,

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