JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A spirited debate was held on the Missouri House floor Tuesday, April 12th, during discussion of House Bill 1858, commonly referred to as “The Parents Bill of Rights.” Rep. Brian Seitz, R-Branson, led the charge against the tenets of Critical Race Theory (CRT) during points of the hours’ long discussion.
“On Tuesday, at the behest of leadership and in coordination with the bill sponsor, I offered House Amendment No. 2 to House Amendment No. 8 for House Bill 1858,” Seitz said. “Originally my HB 1669, the amendment to the amendment would have stopped the teaching of racial or sexual stereotyping, and or bias, based on ones inherited characteristics.”
Long known as the most vocal champion in the Missouri Legislature to end the teaching of the tenets of Critical Race Theory and the usage of the 1619 Project in Missouri schools, Seitz said that the legislative process led to him withdrawing the amendment.
“The House would have easily passed the amendment, but eventually it would have died in the Senate,” Seitz said. “The amendment was discussed at length on the House floor, then I pulled it at the request of leadership in order to make sure the bill we sent to the Senate could be heard and passed. Sometimes, to get a bill passed, procedural techniques are used to further other legislation in order to achieve a desired outcome. To use a football analogy, I was the ‘blocker’ for the running back, allowing him to get a touchdown and achieving victory for the entire team.”
The aforementioned amendment to Rep. Ben Baker’s HB 1858, sponsored by Rep. Shamed Dogan, R-Ballwin, mirrored some of the language found in Seitz’s amendment.
“I took the ‘slings and arrows’ in order for Rep. Dogan’s amendment to pass unmolested,” Seitz said. “Coordination is key in this environment in order to get legislation across the finish line.”
Seitz, known in the House as a conservative firebrand, noted that he will refile his legislation next session if Critical Race Theory continues to be taught in Missouri schools.