Democrats redirect wrath from Rob Schaaf to Chris Kelly
JEFFERSON CITY — The House Ethics Commission this morning voted against giving an official finger-wagging to state Rep. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, for his floor metaphor comparing Medicaid coverage for children to slavery.
The vote was 6-4, with Democrat Chris Kelly joining the Republicans in voting against a House “remonstrance” filed by Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota. The “remonstrance,” a form of censure for inappropriate behavior by a House member, was referred to the Ethics Commission by House Speaker Ron Richard, who chose to treat it like an ethics complaint.
This meeting’s morning was scheduled to be in closed session, but chairman Steve Tilley, R-Perryville, agreed to open the meeting.
Kelly, a former judge, and Republicans, argued that punishing Schaaf for what amounts to free speech could lead to a parade of similar remonstrances all session long.
“Is any time one of us is callous, or rude … on the floor going to give rise to a remonstrance?” Kelly asked. Later, Rep. Bryan Pratt, R-Blue Springs, echoed the comment.
“We have the greatest thing in the world — the freedom of speech — up there on the House floor,” Pratt said.
The meeting got quite heated with Democrats passionately pleading that Schaaf’s comments about slavery were so offensive as to demand some sort of action. Unlike other lawmakers who have made Civil War analogies on the House floor this year, and later apologized, Schaaf later defended his remarks in a letter to the editor.
One observer of the proceedings was state Rep. Don Calloway, D-St. Louis, who had criticized Rep. Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, earlier in the session when Stevenson referred to the Civil War as the “War of Northern Aggression.” Stevenson apologized for his comment.
After the meeting, Calloway was angry at his fellow freshman, Kelly, for voting against the remonstrance.
“Chris Kelly lost my respect forever,” Calloway said. “You can put that in the paper.”
So Rep Calloway lost all respect forever over his childish behavior.
Second day in a row Calloway didn’t get his way and then took his toys and went home. He’s going to have a very frustrating legislative career. Maybe he isn’t going to run again?
I think Chris Kelly is correct - if you cannot have free speech on the floor of the legislative chambers, where can you have it?
The voters can take care of errant lawmakers who go too far.
This is an example of why we need experienced lawmakers like Chris Kelly, who is serving his second stint in the House. He has perspective and wisdom and - most importantly here - a sense of proportion beyond the politics of the moment.
Chris Kelly has done more in his public service tenure to help our most vulnerable and needy fellow Missourians than his rookie legislative critics put together.
This is not the first time. Go back to his college days at Mizzou, or even Ladue, or …shall I go on? Childish, huh? We’d agree. St. Louis County voted over 70% not to have conceal and carry. Callaway voted for guns on college campus’. Must be as a result of his training at Mizzou.
Chris Kelly showed the proper judgment in his vote. On Don Calloway saying that Chris Kelly lost his respect forever, it is my opinion that Calloway is not worthy of any respect. In fact, Calloway has a CURRENT outstanding warrant for his arrest for not appearing to court on driving while revoked charges in Callaway County as he was leaving the Capitol a few weeks ago. If you don’t believe it, you can go to http://www.courts.mo.gov and see for yourself. Case Number 09CW-CR00382.
“In fact, Calloway has a CURRENT outstanding warrant for his arrest for not appearing to court on driving while revoked charges in Callaway County as he was leaving the Capitol a few weeks ago. If you don’t believe it, you can go to http://www.courts.mo.gov and see for yourself. Case Number 09CW-CR00382.”
AH, so THAT’S why he’s walking home to St. louis from Jefferson City. I mistakenly thought it was to make a positive and altruistic statement.
What a hypocrite Callaway is - ignoring laws applying to him while criticizing others for exercising their freedom of speech. He should take a basic civics class.
Slavery is not a word owned by American blacks. Other races, other people have been slaves. The word can be used to mean other things. Dr. Schaaf actually used the word correctly to describe what he believed the tax system would do to our children.
This was a cheap, political stunt by Paul “FBI” LeVota to try and make a point. Thank God his entire party isn’t as petty and cheap as he is. Judge Kelly deserves much praise from BOTH sides of the aisle for making a decision based upon reason, logic and facts and not raw political emotion.
In reading other accounts of the hearing I think it can be said that Kansas City Reps Beth Low and Trent Skaggs are disgusting, whiney, wimps who make himalayan mountains out of molehills. For Skaggs to say that black legislators are scared to travel I-70 for fear the police will pick them up using racial profiling is disgusting and is far more offensive than anything Dr. Schaaf said. If legislators fear I-70 and the police it is solely because most of them drive like lunatics on the interstate with a cell phone in one hand cruising well ABOVE the speed limit. And if you have driven 70 around or near Columbia and seen those familar yellowish plates with R or S - # you know what I mean.