(DES MOINES, Iowa) — Things are getting a little steamy in the Iowa statehouse.
During a lengthy debate on public school teachers’ collective bargaining rights, Republican state Rep. Ross Paustian decided to slip in a little racy reading.
The Des Moines Register posted a photo of him, apparently unabashed, perusing Sex After Sixty in the statehouse chamber on its Facebook page.
Paustian, 59, told the Des Moines Register the book was passed to him by fellow Rep. Robert Bacon, also a Republican.
“We could all use a laugh around here,” he said.
Paustian isn’t the only lawmaker to zone out during the debate.
The left-leaning advocacy group Progress Iowa posted a photo of Republican state Rep. Clel Baudler supposedly watching Netflix:
Rep. Clel Baudler watches @netflix while @IAHouseGOP tries to pass bill to bully teachers #ialegis #standwithteachers pic.twitter.com/TKgA5kE8UA
— Progress Iowa (@ProgressIowa) March 18, 2015
Paustian told ABC affiliate KCRG-TV in Des Moines that the book was a gag gift and he had simply picked it up to glance at it.
“I was totally engaged in what was going on on the floor,” Paustian told the station, “I knew how we were going to vote on amendments. So it wasn’t like I wasn’t paying attention to what was going on.”
Still, Paustian said, “if any of my constituents were offended, I apologize. I certainly wasn’t trying to offend anybody. I’m doing my job here for my constituents.”
Neither Baudler nor Bacon immediately returned ABC News’ request for comment.
Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
