Accusations of vote-selling last night nearly led to a physical altercation this morning in the Missouri House.
North Kansas City Democrat Trent Skaggs was at the center of the scuffle.
On Wednesday night, lawmakers debated a teacher-pay bill that included a provision giving state money to special-needs students wanting to switch schools. The provision was eventually stripped from the bill, and some Republican leaders declared the bill dead this morning.
Amidst the debate over the bill, Skaggs took the floor and essentially accused some House members of selling their votes on the special-needs funding issue.
"Skaggs made comments about people selling their votes, about being bought off for $30,000," said Rep. Ryan Silvey, a Kansas City Republican. "Selling your vote is an indictable offense."
The accusations – which avoided naming names – did not sit well with Republicans.
In retaliation, Majority Floor Leader Steven Tilley, of Perryville, delivered a pointed – and likewise unspecific – response this morning.
"If you have information about another member who's done something that's unethical, do not make accusations that are baseless in nature," Tilley said when the House reconvened this morning.
From there, things escalated quickly.
Within moments, Tilley and Skaggs were toe-to-toe, jawing at one another like a Lou Piniella and Mark Wegner . After a moment, a Democratic staffer stepped in and separated them just long enough for Rep. Brian Nieves, a Washington Republican and proponent of the special-needs funding, to step in.
Words could not be made out from the press gallery, but the body language was unmistakable – especially when Skaggs reached forward and patted Nieves on the cheek. Nieves visibly lunged, but was pulled back by a staffer and Rep. Michael Parson, a Bolivar Republican (and former sheriff).
Democrats and Republicans then retreated to their respective corners and Skaggs and Nieves briefly exited the chambers.
Afterward, Skaggs reiterated the points he made Wednesday and downplayed the near-altercation that resulted from them.
"There has been a pattern of corruption with this bill," Skaggs said.
Lawmakers have left the legislature to go to work for organizations favoring the bill, he said. Supporters have set up dozens of political committees to circumvent contribution limits and disguise the source of donations. Supporters have even plied lawmakers with checks in exchange for votes.
The outburst was inappropriate for the House Floor, said Silvey, who was among the Republicans who helped cool down Nieves and Tilley.
"If you have evidence, you make a complaint to the ethics committee. You don't stand on the floor and make accusations without proof," he said. "There's no question this was out of line."
Skaggs defended his comments.
"We do this all the time," he said. "We talk about the process and call out contributions. This is not new territory."
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This is what we have come to as we have lost the great art of compramise. No longer do we work for the the betterment of our citizenary. It is all or nothing with both parties. They refuse to work together to solve problems but it must be their way or no way. This is not the way it should be. This must stop. We must start voting for people that are able to stand up for their ideals but able to give and take to make good laws. The days of voting for just a party are over, or should be. Physically fighting on the House floor is not the answer. Verbal debate is good because it brings out many ideas, but who can beat who physically does not solve our problems.
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