Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33) issued a statement on Mar. 13 regarding the treatment of Littlestown bus driver Dave Bonhoff, who he said was forced out of his job for wearing a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat.
Mastriano said the incident raises concerns about free speech and constitutional rights in Pennsylvania workplaces. He argued that citizens should not lose their First Amendment rights because others are offended by their views.
“The treatment of Littlestown bus driver Dave Bonhoff should outrage every Pennsylvanian who believes in liberty, fairness and the constitutional freedoms that define our nation,” Mastriano said. He described Bonhoff as a retired police officer who continued serving his community by transporting children to school, but “was effectively forced out of his job because he wore a hat that read ‘Make America Great Again.’ Whether someone agrees with that message is completely irrelevant. In America, citizens do not lose their First Amendment rights simply because someone else claims to be offended.”
Mastriano further stated, “What happened here is not about ‘sensitivity’ or ‘respect.’ It is about the suffocating culture of political correctness that is spreading through our institutions — a culture that demands conformity, punishes dissent and attempts to silence anyone who refuses to bow to its ideology.” He added, “Political correctness has become a tool of intimidation. It is used to shame, threaten and drive ordinary Americans out of their jobs and public life simply for expressing views that do not align with the approved narrative. That is not tolerance. That is coercion.”
According to the official website, Mastriano has advanced community service through veteran support efforts and focused on supporting veterans through legislative measures and community initiatives according to the official website. He has also led as chairman of both the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee and the Senate Local Government Committee according to the official website. His district covers Adams and Franklin counties in Pennsylvania according to the official website.
Mastriano concluded his statement by saying, “Freedom of expression is not granted by bureaucrats, administrators or activists. It is a God-given right protected by the Constitution — and it must be defended without apology.”
