Washington
CNN
—
Legislators in Missouri house of Representatives adopted a stricter dress code this week for women as part of a new rules package now requires them to cover their shoulders wearing a jacket like blazer, cardigan or knitted blazer.
The addition, proposed by Republican Rep. Anne Kelly, outraged some Democrats. who said the change was sexist because the dress code for men has not been changed.
Men in Missouri house of Representatives required wear a jacket, shirt and tie. old dress code for women required “dresses, skirts or trousers worn with blazer or sweater and matching shoes or boots.”
Kelly speaking on floor said she felt compelled to propose a change that “cleanses up some of in language …by mirroring language in dress code for a gentleman.
“Men required wearing a jacket, shirt and tie, right? And if they went in here without a tie with a hammer they would give down in heartbeat. If they were walking in without a jacket they would have been thrown with a hammer down in heartbeat. So we’re so curious in equal,” Kelly said. on Wednesday during floor debate.
Women make up less than a third of places in Missouri house, which made up of 116 men and 43 women, according to the State Department website.
Dress code amendment passed in a voice vote and rules package later passed by the GOP-controlled legislature. in 105-51 vote but not without opposition and debate from House Democrats.
“You know what does he feel like have a bunch of men in is this room looking at your top, trying to figure out if it fits or not? Democratic House Representative Ashley He proclaimed floor.
Republicans changed their amendment to include cardigans after Democratic Rep. Rachel Proudie criticized the impact blazers could have. on pregnant women.
Democratic Rep. Peter Merideth declined vote on amendment, informing colleagues on in floor”I don’t think that I qualified say what is appropriate or not appropriate for women and i think it’s a really dangerous road for us everybody go down”.
“You had an attack corresponding to last two years we talked about maybe maybe wearing masks in pandemic to keep each other safe. How dare government tell you what you should wear over your face? Well, I know some governments require women wear things over their face is here, oh it’s alright because we just talking about how many layers they must have over their shoulders, Merideth added.
In the US Congress up until 2017 journalists and legislators required wear dresses and blouses with sleeves if they wanted to enter the chamber of the House. AND group of bipartisan female legislators protested over their “right to bear arms”, prompting then-Speaker Paul Ryan office admit that the dress code “could be a little modernized”. The US Senate later amended its rules Also, according to The New York Times.
He told CNN on Friday afternoon that the changes signal that the Republicans in the state is not focused on “important questions.”
“In 2019, Republicans in the House of Representatives passed a ban on abortion, effect this summer after Dobbs decision came down completely limiting women’s right to choose in this state and on day one in our legislature they double down on control women,” she said on “CNN News”.
“It’s wild for me. I think this sends a message that the Missouri Republican Party, the Republican Party, has no best interest in mind and (is) not focused on important questions”.
This story was updated with additional details.
