Nunes warns of the ‘straw police’ in California

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) warned of the “Straw Police” in California after a visit to a restaurant on Saturday.

In a tweet, Nunes appeared to tie bans on single-use plastic straws to “socialism” in his state.

“At restaurant tonight waitress asks if we want straws,” the lawmaker tweeted. “Says she has to ask now in fear of ‘THE STRAW POLICE.’ Welcome to Socialism in California!”

At restaurant tonight waitress asks if we want straws. Says she has to ask now in fear of “THE STRAW POLICE”. Welcome to Socialism in California!

— Devin Nunes (@DevinNunes) March 10, 2019

A new law took effect this year barring restaurants in California from giving patrons plastic straws unless one is requested.

{mosads}The state is just one location among a number of other cities and businesses globally to cut back on the use of plastic in an effort to reduce ocean waste.   

Nunes’s comment was mocked on social media, with many pushing back on his claim of “socialism,” and others questioning whether the incident happened.

The key thing people fail to understand about the STRAW POLICE is that, beneath the uniform, they’re just straw men. https://t.co/yQlQFQUcoN

— Tim Carvell (@timcarvell) March 10, 2019

People are saying he made this up, but I’m 99% sure the server was just making a light hearted joke and this humorless plank took it seriously. https://t.co/93MFKuVztF

— Jennifer Unkle (@jbu3) March 10, 2019

Paper straws are very annoying, but having to ask for a plastic straw is not remotely close to “socialism”. https://t.co/6wXZkm66rY

— Cullen Roche (@cullenroche) March 10, 2019

Last night, a waiter asked me if I wanted water with my meal. SOCIALISM! https://t.co/pPoHkjhbsQ

— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) March 10, 2019