A Missouri lawmaker on Tuesday said a dispute with another lawmaker over right-to-work legislation during a union event last week led to an alley fistfight that prompted one of them to seek a restraining order.
Rep. Courtney Allen Curtis released a copy of the restraining order and a House ethics complaint he filed against Rep. Michael Butler. Both are St. Louis area Democrats.
Curtis alleges Butler verbally confronted him during a union reception at a downtown Jefferson City restaurant Jan. 19 because Curtis last year supported a right-to-work bill limiting union powers. The Missouri AFL-CIO held a fundraising reception that evening at Bones Restaurant and Lounge, 210 Commercial Way, for members of the House and Senate Democratic caucuses.
Curtis said Butler took a swing at him in an alley as he was leaving, and Curtis said he fought back.
"I regret that the situation regressed to where the actions felt needed, but I do not regret protecting myself and holding strong to my ideals and the beliefs of my constituents," Curtis said in a statement released to the media. "As long as I represent the people that elected me to serve, I will continue to fight for their rights. And I will not be intimidated."
Curtis was the only Democrat in September to vote with Republicans to make Missouri a right-to-work state. The House still fell significantly short of the votes needed to override Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon's veto.
"Our political stances shouldn't ever result to having violent actions taken against us," Curtis said.
Butler declined to comment to The Associated Press.
Curtis said he wasn't drinking at the time of the altercation. He said he sustained cuts and bruises to his ear, the inside of his lip and the side of his temple.
He stated he filed a police report about the incident on Jan. 21. He filed an ethics complaint on Jan. 22 and a temporary restraining order was approved on Jan. 25.
House rules say the speaker will refer complaints against members "without discussion" to an ethics committee within 10 days. Complaints are confidential.
News Tribune staff contributed information to this article.