Rep. Bill Lant's action to silence the state NAACP president's testimony during a committee hearing was inappropriate and an embarrassment to our state.
Lant, R-Pineville, on Monday was chairing a House committee that was taking public comment on a bill that would restrict discrimination lawsuits. Rod Chapel, president of the Missouri NAACP and a Jefferson City attorney, was testifying against the bill.
The Associated Press reported Lant told Chapel: "Please contain your speech to speaking on the bill, sir."
Chapel replied: "Oh, but I am because this is nothing but Jim Crow. You do not legalize discrimination on an individual basis and call it anything else."
Lant's response was to turn off Chapel's microphone. Chapel continued speaking, but Lant interrupted him and called on someone else to speak, the AP reported.
AP says the bill would require plaintiffs bringing discrimination lawsuits to prove race, religion, sex or other protected status was the motivating factor for discrimination or being fired, rather than just a contributing factor. It also would prevent employees from suing other employees, and it would cap damages.
Lant offered a non-apology apology. When told by a reporter that Chapel considered the chairman's actions discriminatory, Lant said he apologized if Chapel "got that feeling." At another point, Lant said he had "nothing to apologize for," according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
That left House Speaker Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, to handle the damage control.
"The House was not at its best yesterday," Richardson said on Tuesday during an NAACP event at the Capitol, according to MissouriNet.
The Capitol, Richardson said, is a place where the free exchange of ideas should be welcomed, the radio news agency reported. "This is a place where, more than anywhere else, we are supposed to respect the times we disagree with each other but still have that dialogue.
"Mr. Chapel, I want to tell you personally, on behalf of the Missouri House, that you are always welcome to present your views and your thoughts and you are most certainly always welcome to present your views of this great organization to our members."
Well said, Mr. Speaker.
Lant has since acknowledged his actions prevented open dialogue, and said he would hold another hearing.
Was Chapel's testimony going to sway Lant or his Republican-controlled committee? Not likely. But that's not the point.
Legislative committees hold public hearings on bills to understand how laws would affect their constituents, and the state as a whole. Each speaker has five minutes, and that time shouldn't be dependent on their views.
Lant's action unwittingly fueled opponents' arguments of discrimination and racism.
But we commend Speaker Richardson for showing true leadership in his response. He gave us assurance that everyone can have a voice at the Capitol, and we can be civil to each other even while agreeing to disagree.