Come on down California Assembly Majority Leader Charles Calderon, a Democrat, for being a prig or a pig (take your pick):
While mercury soared to triple digits Wednesday, Assembly sergeants-at-arms began notifying women that a new policy requires them to wear a coat or sweater to enter the chamber.
The new policy is squishy, unwritten and still developing, but the goal is to fill in the gaps of a longstanding rule requiring visitors, credentialed media and legislative aides to wear “appropriate business attire” on the Assembly floor.
“This is the chamber of the Assembly, this isn’t a barn,” said Ronald Pane, Assembly sergeant-at-arms.
For years, Assembly guards had not rigidly enforced the “business attire” rule, but Majority Leader Charles Calderon, D-Whittier, recently began a push to spruce up decorum in the 80-member lower house. […]
Assemblywoman Lori Saldana pointed out that short sleeves, cap sleeves and scoop necks have become the norm in women’s professional attire trends. The San Diego Democrat said female lawmakers already conform to an unwritten agreement to avoid sleeveless dresses and tops.
“I’m old enough to remember when I had to wear a dress to school,” Saldana said, “so when I heard this could be happening again my response was, ‘Do we have to break out the burqas?’ “
You’d think with all the problems California faces, the sight of a woman’s bare shoulders in the Assembly Chamber would be the least of their elected representatives concerns. Thank you Mr. Calderon for reminding us that male sexism is a bi-partisan problem. And Representative Saldana, don’t worry I doubt burqas will be required considering the anti-Muslim sentiment running rampant in America this month. Veils on the other hand ….
