House GOP Leader Lawrence Cafero is calling for a meeting with legislative leadership to clarify the policy regarding flags at the Capitol.
His call comes on the heels of the controversy over the Connecticut Tea Party Patriots’ request to fly the “Don’t Tread on Me” flag. Capitol police, who oversee flag-flying requests, initially approved it, but yesterday they rescinded permission because the flag-waving ceremony was followed by a political event with Tea Party candidates.
Though the decision to deny permission was made by Acting Capitol Police Chief Walter Lee, it came after House Democrats complained, Cafero said.
Cafero said he objects to “one out of four caucuses having that kind of influence.”
“Why were we not consulted as legislative leaders?” Cafero asked.
He wants leaders from both parties to meet ASAP to clarify what he calls a “vague policy…so that this kind of thing doesn’t happen again.”
The policy, instituted after a similar uproar at the Captiol over the flying of the Rainbow flag, a universal emblem of gay rights. Following that 1999 controversy, new guidelines were drafted by the Office of Legislative Management. Read them here.