Thread by @SarahUnsicker

I applaud Montana Democrats for objecting so strongly to the refusal to let their member speak. Rep Zephyr was treated in a way that is not just unjust, but is an assault on democracy.

But as a Missouri Democrat I have questions … #MoLeg 🧵

https://twitter.com/ErinInTheMorn/status/1649140092269735937

State legislatures are as different as the states themselves. Scrolling through the thread above, I am making guesses as to the Missouri equivalent to Montana procedure. But I'm going to talk about Missouri in the rest of this thread.

The practice of not recognizing members who have asked to speak was used before my time in #MOLeg, and still occurs. I am not a rules expert, it never occurred to me that this could be a violation of rules.

For anyone who wants to help me understand this, I'll start with the current rules of the Missouri House, which can be found here: house.mo.gov/billtracking/b…

Rule 86. The Speaker shall not recognize any member desiring to speak unless such member arises or appropriately seeks recognition at or near his or her desk.

(cont. R. 86) When two or more members seek recognition at the same time, the Speaker shall name the member who is to speak first, the other members having the preference next to speak.

The following rules are:
87: How often a member may speak
88: No member shall name another in debate
89: Members not to use profanity
90: Do not cross the line of debate
91: Order of questions

Then it moves to What is a Quorum. Nothing about discretion to recognize a member.

Looking through, I can't find anything in the Rules of the Missouri House about the discretion of the Speaker or of the Committee Chair to recognize (or not recognize) someone who makes a motion to speak.

There is a procedure to end debate. That is a Previous Question motion, which is a privileged motion and requires a recorded vote. House Rules have this as our Rule 76.

But nothing about otherwise refusing to recognize a member who is asked to be recognized.

Rule 129. The rules of parliamentary practice comprised in "Jefferson's Manual" and the "Rules of the House of Representatives of the United States", and the official collection of precedents and interpretations of the rules by parliamentary ...

(cont. R. 129) authorities of the United States House of Representatives shall govern the House in all cases in which they are applicable and not inconsistent with the standing rules and orders of the House and the joint rules of the Senate and House of Representatives

OK so what does Jefferson's Manual say? govinfo.gov/content/pkg/HM…

355: "When a Member stands up to speak, no question is to be put, but he is to be heard unless the House overrule him."

That seems pretty clear ...