Rep. Bernie Satrom, R-12th District, argued against changing the laws, saying Sundays are for "spending time with your wife, your husband. Making him breakfast, bringing it to him in bed and then after that go take your kids for a walk."
Rep. Vernon Laning, R-8th District, offered another reason to keep the Blue Laws on the books.
"I don't know about you but my wife has no problem spending everything I earn in 6 and a half days. And I don't think it hurts at all to have a half day off," Laning said.
The House voted against getting rid of the Blue Laws.
Satrom and Laning have come under fire from the public for their sexist comments.
"It's frustrating personally because when you know those are the people representing you and you don't feel like you're being represented and those kind of backwards ways of thinking are still present, it's really, it's upsetting," Fargo resident Sarah Cramer told Valley News Live.
The North Dakota Woman's Network called the comments "regrettable humor" and suggested legislators should take policy-making for female constituents more seriously.
Satrom did not respond to a call for comment, but Laning laughed and said he does not understand why anyone was offended by his statement, which he said was meant to be a joke. He suggested people offended by his words might be lacking a sense of humor.
