In a letter to her constituents, Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford (D-St. Louis) wrote:

One of the most disgusting political tricks I have ever seen happened on April 30. While debating a bill to eliminate corporate taxes, a series of bogus amendments were offered that promised to restore Medicaid coverage to the 180,000 people who have been cut off since 2005. The mechanism to do so was a tax increase that borrowed some of the language from my own tax reform bill (House Bill 2131), but without the refundable tax credit portions that lower tax burden for about 60% of Missourians. It quickly became apparent that this was a purely political maneuver intended to secure a roll call vote that could become ammunition in negative campaign ads. Those who voted yes could be accused of voting for a tax increase; those who voted no could be accused of voting against restoring health coverage to persons on Medicaid.

I was outraged that a topic as serious as the Medicaid cuts could be turned into a shabby political trick. I grilled Rep. Muschany and Rep. Hunter about their amendments and then delivered a shaky, but heart-felt speech.

Click to listen to her pungent remarks:

I don’t know who interjected the remark about “preserve our decorum in the chamber”, but I’d guess it’s some irony-challenged Republican. It is indecorous to smugly present an amendment that mocks the suffering of those kicked off Medicaid–no matter how gentlemanly your demeanor is while you’re doing it.