Iowa legislator seen reading 'Sex After Sixty' book during debate

DES MOINES, Iowa, March 19 (UPI) -- Iowa state Rep. Ross Paustian, R-Walcott, is gaining Internet fame after being photographed on the House floor reading a book titled Sex After Sixty.

The members were settled in for a debate over amendments to a bill regarding collective bargaining for teachers when Paustian was photographed reading the book.

The Des Moines Register reports the book was being passed around the House and was handed to Paustian by Rep. Robert Bacon, R-Slater. The book is a gag gift with blank pages.

Rep. Paustian clearly engaged in this debate. #ialegis pic.twitter.com/qdMyFEasop

— Brianne Pfannenstiel (@brianneDMR) March 17, 2015

"We could all use a laugh around here," said Paustian.

Paustian said he received some surprisingly angry emails for his lack of attentiveness.

"I'm getting a lot of pretty vicious emails from people, so I have to explain," he told KCRG. "The main thing is I was totally engaged in what was going on on the floor. ... I knew what was going on. 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."

"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," he added.

Paustian and his wife Carol have two children.