TOPEKA, Kan. — A Kansas House member has apologized after he asked a Native American lawmaker whether she used a tomahawk rather than a gavel to quiet the House.
Rep. John Wheeler, a Republican from Garden City, made the comment Wednesday to Rep. Ponka-We Victors-Cozad, a Democrat from Wichita.
When Victors-Cozad used a gavel to quiet the House, Wheeler turned around and said he was “checking to see if that was a tomahawk.”
Wheeler said he was joking but immediately apologized when some lawmakers voiced disapproval.
He said he would apologize personally to Victors-Cozad and two other Native American members of the Legislature.
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