The American Spectator

, who told the prickly pol from California that if he didn’t end the simmering story, he was risking his chairmanship. /p>

Thomas, who is famous for his temper, and who has been known to stalk out of meetings in his own private office, angered Democrats when he ordered the House sergeant at arms to call in the Capitol Hill police if Democratic House Ways and Means committee members refused to re-convene for the markup of a bill. Most Democrats had marched out of the committee room in protest, leaving Rep. Pete Stark to scream homophobic remarks at Republicans. Evidently he hates it when they call him by his real name, Fortney.

“It was all very embarrassing to us,” says a House Republican leadership aide. “Hastert has been hearing from a number of Republican members that it has been increasingly difficult to work with Thomas. He’s been a real pain in the ass, and this was just the last straw.”

Thomas beat Illinois Rep. Philip Crane for the Ways and Means seat three years ago, upsetting some conservatives who disliked Thomas’s brash style.

Thomas had refused to apologize for his actions, even in a closed door meeting with the Republican caucus. But on Tuesday, according to Hill sources, Hastert laid down the law and told Thomas to get with the program.

For all of the glee some Republicans took in seeing Thomas humbled, they were reminded that there are worse personalities in their midst. While many Democrats welcomed Thomas’s weepy tale of woe, Nancy Pelosi, who herself is facing increasing doubts about her leadership future, said the apology wasn’t good enough.