HARRISBURG, Pa. -- State Rep. Leslie Acosta (D-Philadelphia) said she felt her "character was assassinated" when a Pennsylvania House colleague brought a speaker with ties to white nationalist groups to testify in a committee hearing on a controversial bill.
Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler), who serves as chairman of the House State Government Committee, invited Robert Vandervoort to testify in defense of a bill which would make English the official language in Pennsylvania. Vandervoot, executive director of the group ProEnglish, was had ties to "white nationalist" groups , according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. When Rep. Acosta, as a member of the State Government Committee, was given her opportunity to ask Vandervoort a question concerning the bill, she read a statement in opposition. When a minute passed and Acosta had yet to ask her question, Rep. Metcalfe cut her off.
"I was trying to make a point," said Acosta, who opened her remarks in Spanish. "I came to this country when I was two years old not knowing any English and my parents knew very little."
Rep. Leslie Acosta, the first Latin woman elected to the Pennsylvania State House, is offended; not at the bill, but that Rep. Metcalfe would invite someone, she claims, carries viewpoints which he feels are superior to those who aren't white, or in this case, non-English.
"I don't tolerate racism. I don't tolerate bigotry. I wouldn't expect that from any member and colleague," Acosta said. "The Speaker of the House has a responsibility to act on this issue."
Acosta tells Fox43 that following the hearing dust-up with Rep. Metcalfe, she was told by House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) a meeting would take place between the three of them. As of Tuesday, not only has that meeting not taken place, but it has not been scheduled.
"That meeting will take place," said Jay Ostrich, spokesman for Speaker Turzai. Ostrich said prior to meeting with Metcalfe and Acosta, Turzai is hoping to meet with GOP and Democrat House leadership to discuss the issue. Ostrich added the Speaker is taking Rep. Acosta's concerns very seriously.
"This is an important matter for all leadership to address together to ensure all members and issues are being treated with the utmost respect," Ostrich added.
Rep. Metcalfe declined comment for this story.