(The Center Square) — Missouri Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, D-Independence, took no joy in witnessing a Republican “civil war” in the chamber.
“It’s hard to watch that,” Rizzo told reporters Thursday during an end-of-week press conference. “I know we’re all supposed to be jubilant that Republicans are fighting each other. But you know, it’s hard to watch the Senate die.”
Rizzo said it reminded him of previous times when Democrats held majorities.
“Slice it however you want, this is the beginning of the end,” Rizzo said. “They look like 1998 Democrats. Period. Trust me, I knew a lot of them … This is what it looked like … It’s about the next cycle and they don’t care.”
Frustrated with floor actions by Republican members of the Freedom Caucus, Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, removed members from chairmanships and committee assignments earlier this week. Sen. Nick Schroer, R-St. Charles, responded with a proposed change to chamber rules allowing duels if one believes their honor was “impugned by another senator to the point that it is beyond repair,” according to posts on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
The drama peaked Thursday when, according to multiple media outlets, Senate Majority Leader Cindy O’Laughlin, R-Shelbina, told a gathering of newspaper editors she would consider gathering 23 votes required to expel Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring, and a Freedom Caucus member who is running for governor.
“I can tell you I spoke to a couple of my colleagues who are in the middle faction of the Senate after the session today and they were appalled at what Sen. O’Laughlin did,” Eigel said. “You heard the Democratic floor leader and I have a tremendous amount of respect for [him]. Even though we disagree vehemently on policy, he’s never lied to me. I heard him say … that not even he, in spite of having all those policy differences, would be willing to expel a member of this chamber who was duly elected by the people.”
Eigel complained on the Senate floor about initiative petition legislation being held up and delayed a vote on gubernatorial appointments. Rowden sent a large number of bills to committees on Thursday, including the initiative petition reform bill. Eigel stated the bill was critical as signatures are being gathered to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot to restore abortion rights in Missouri.
“It was meant to be a show of good faith that obviously wasn’t greeted in kind,” Rowden told reporters. “I think my deal that I have set forth since the beginning of this entire charade was I’ll refer every bill if we can get gubernatorial appointments done. Traditionally, in this place, both things are fairly inconsequential.”
Rowden said of the 17 hours and 52 minutes the Senate was in session this week, 16 hours and 45 minutes were filibusters. Eigel poked fun at a chart showing a list of Freedom Caucus senators and the time they spent addressing the chamber.
“I want to apologize to my colleagues behind me,” Eigel said. “I feel like I could produce better numbers than what you’re seeing on these charts and you have my commitment that I’ll make that a priority next week.”
