Senate action on March 5 became a convoluted mess as a debate over ceremonial holidays quickly turned into an argument on transgender healthcare.

Sen. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City, introduced a bill creating “Chris Sifford” Day. Sifford was a longtime staffer for former Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan, a Democrat, before both died in a plane crash. Numerous amendments were attached to the bill by other senators, adding other ceremonial holidays.

Few senators were even present for the lengthy debate over what holidays to add and whether Missouri’s unofficial moniker “the Show-Me State” needs to be enshrined in law. Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, even watched some of the proceedings in the gallery among the public.

Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, criticized the number of commemorative holidays the state has. There are over 100 ceremonial holidays in state law. Most of these are unknown to all but a few people, such as Jan. 16, which is set as Albert Pujols Day to honor the Cardinal legend.

A wound between Democrats and Republicans was reopened when Hoskins filed an amendment to add a sunset date to the holidays introduced by Razer.

Last year, a bill blocking doctors from administering gender-affirming care was only able to get through a Democrat filibuster with a 2027 sunset date added to the law. Hoskins filed a bill this session to remove that sunset date.

Razer opposed the amendment, saying he felt that Hoskins can’t, in good conscience, propose the sunset of a holiday when he can’t keep a promise on a sunset deal made last year. Hoskins retorted that he never agreed not to file a law removing the sunset on the transgender legislation at some point in the future.

After continuing back and forth, the debate reached a climax when Hoskins said, “We want to talk little kids having their private parts cut off?” in a reference to medical procedures for gender transition.

Razer responded, “How many times did you say that ridiculous lie last year?”

Then, after screaming at each other for a few seconds, the Senate Pro-Tem Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, banged his gavel and called the chamber to order.

The bill was put aside, ending what was meant to be a procedural debate on ceremonial holidays that became a fiery referendum on gender policy.
The floor histrionics underscored the lack of progress in approving bills in the Senate this session as it nears the halfway point. The Senate still needs to debate exceedingly controversial topics such as education reform, the budget and Planned Parenthood funding.