Trent Skaggs, a Democratic state rep from North Kansas City, almost brawled with Republican leaders on the floor of the Missouri House in April. The near melee erupted after Republicans attached a poison-pill amendment to a bill that would have raised teacher salaries. (The amendment called for scholarships that would allow autistic students to transfer to private schools, essentially taking away state money from public schools.) Eighty House members voted against it. Once the scholarships were gone, so was any hope for teacher raises. House Majority Leader Steven Tilley refused to schedule another vote on the bill unless the taxpayer-funded scholarships returned. Skaggs took to the House floor and accused Republican lawmakers of selling their votes for campaign donations from St. Louis moneyman Rex Sinquefield, a backer of school choice. The next morning, tempers flared. Tilley accused Skaggs of crossing the line with his bribery comments. Skaggs and Tilley got in each other's faces. Staff members and lawmakers stepped in like WWE referees to separate them. Then House Majority Whip Brian Nieves wanted a piece of Skaggs. According to several news reports, Skaggs patted Nieves' cheek twice with his open palm. Nieves pounced at Skaggs, but staffers and other lawmakers restrained him. It wasn't quite Friday Night SmackDown! but it made the session interesting.
