Measure to honor Joey Vento sidetracked in Pa. House

HARRISBURG - Even in death, Philadelphia cheesesteak king Joey Vento is causing controversy.

On Tuesday, State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R., Butler) proposed a resolution honoring Vento, owner of Geno's Steaks in South Philadelphia, who died in August. Vento was perhaps best known for the sign at Geno's that read: "This is America. When ordering, please speak English." The sign sparked a national controversy in 2006.

Metcalfe supports a bill to make English the "official language" of Pennsylvania and considers Vento a hero for his actions.

But all it takes to stop a House resolution is one dissenting vote, and that came from Rep. Angel Cruz (D., Philadelphia), who opposes the official-language bill. So the Metcalfe resolution on Vento was shipped to a House committee for discussion.