A debate on the Senate floor at the moment has the feel of a back-door filibuster. Sen. Victor Callahan, D-Independence, and Sen. Chris Koster, D-Raymore, are debating the village law repeal, sort of.

Callahan and Koster are talking about a provision that had been added in House committee, but is no longer in the bill, that would regulate the sale of liquor in a particular Kansas City entertainment district. The two men are engaged in a raucous debate over a local Kansas City issue. They are not talking about the underlying bill.

Perhaps that’s because neither wants to be identified as the senator who filibustered a bill that would regulate the adult-oriented business industry. However, the effect is the same. At some point, Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mt. Vernon, will have to decide whether he wants to cut off the debate and send his bill to conference, where the adult-oriented regulations will likely be taken out, or he can wait the two men out and try to convince the Senate to pass the House version of the bill as is so it can go to the governor. That’s Goodman’s top priority because then Speaker of the House Rod Jetton can no longer stand in his way.

Wondering what’s really going on here? Majority Floor Leader Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, isn’t. He just interrupted the debate for a tongue-in-cheek point of order: “Mr. President,” Shields said. “I’d like to note the lack of sincerety.”

Since the Senate already passed the immigration legislation out first thing this morning, there is not a lot of urgency to stop the debate. Besides, Koster and Callahan are having fun.