A Statehouse ethics committee has rejected a grievance against a St. Joseph Republican for making a controversial comparison to slavery.

The House of Representatives panel Tuesday morning voted down, 6-4, a remonstrance Minority Leader Paul LeVota filed against Rep. Dr. Rob Schaaf for comments he’s made this spring concerning slavery and a Democratic health care proposal.

“It’s nice to know I have the freedom of speech to say what I need to do for my job,” Dr. Schaaf told the News-Press.

Dr. Schaaf didn’t attend the ethics committee meeting, which originally was closed to the public. The committee’s chairman, Majority Floor Leader Steve Tilley, R-Perryville, said he opted open the meeting because the remonstrance didn’t rise to the level of an ethics complaint.

Dr. Schaaf during March floor debate opposed a proposal to expand income requirements for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, contending that the governmet shouldn’t enslave taxpayers by paying for the services of those who can care for themselves.

Mr. LeVota in April filed a resolution to admonish Dr. Schaaf for his statements, accusing the Republican of comparing children’s health care to slavery.

The one-page remonstrance criticizes Dr. Schaaf for his “intellectually bankrupt comments” and asks the House clerk to prepare a copy for Dr. Schaaf “so that he modifies his actions accordingly.”

“When we try to change history and we try to make light of one of the most tragic moments of history ... I think it deserves a remonstrance,” said Rep. Trent Skaggs, D-North Kansas City, who made the motion to approve the grievance so it could go to the House for further debate.

House Speaker Pro Tem Bryan Pratt, R-Blue Springs, said that it would be “morally bankrupt” for anyone to defend the murder of slavery on the House floor, but he urged the committee to vote against the remonstrance.

“The Freedom of Speech even extends to dumb comments representatives make on the House floor,” Mr. Pratt said.

Mr. Tilley said representatives frequently make offensive comments and approving the remonstrance Tuesday would’ve opened the door to a flurry of complaints on other controversial debate.

“I think it was a poor choice of words,” Mr. Tilley said. “The (implication) is he wants to bring back slavery. That’s absolutely ridiculous.”

The only Democrat to vote against the remonstrance, Rep. Chris Kelly, D-Columbia, said House leadership should’ve followed protocol and referred the resolution to a rules committee for a full public hearing with witness testimony.

“We shouldn’t be here,” Mr. Kelly said. “It’s an inappropriate use of the remonstrance process.”

Both Reps. Martin Rucker and Ed Wildberger, two St. Joseph Democrats, signed off on the remonstrance. Mr. Rucker is the chairman of the Black Legislative Caucus.