Angry Texas Republicans in the House are demanding an apology from a Florida Democrat who called Texas "a crazy state."
Rep. Alcee Hastings made his provocative comment about the Lone Star State during a Rules Committee hearing earlier this week on a bill to repeal Obamacare,
according to The Dallas Morning News.
Republican Texas Rep. Michael Burgess, a member of the committee chaired by fellow Texas Rep. Pete Sessions, was testifying for the bill when Hastings spoke up.
Asked what he was referring to, the Florida congressman replied, "I mean that just as I said it. I told you what I think about Texas. I wouldn't live there for all the tea in China, and that's how I feel."
When Burgess called on Hastings to apologize, Hastings refused, saying: "You will wait until hell freezes over for me to say anything in an apology."
He continued: "I will apologize to you if I was directing my comments to you. I was commenting about the state that you happen to be a resident of."
The two dozen representatives from Texas have now issued a joint statement attacking Hastings, saying: "Don't mess with Texas." They are demanding that Hastings officially apologize to the citizens of their state, according to the News.
Hastings, who has served in Congress since 1993, was a judge at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida from 1979 until his impeachment in 1989. He is one of only eight federal officials in American history
to be impeached and removed from office, according to reports.
The day after the "crazy state" controversy, the Republican-controlled House passed the bill to
repeal Obamacare.