Associated Press
Cities, counties and state government will have to buy state and American flags made in the United States under a bill passed by the Florida House.
The House on Friday voted 110-2 for the All American Flag Act.
The vote triggered a debate about whether the mandate itself is American.
Some legislators said that forcing local and state government to buy flags made in the United States was “anti-capitalist” and a “restraint of trade.”
Other lawmakers, though, said taxpayer money should not be spent on flags made in other countries such as China.
Rep. Richard Stark, a Democrat from Weston, said that he did not like the bill but said he voted for it. He said he did not want to be on the record as opposing it.
Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
