TOPEKA — Senate President Ty Masterson ignited fury among House Democrats when he rang a ceremonial bell Friday outside the House chamber to celebrate a veto override.
Masterson, who is seeking the GOP nomination for governor, offered “no apologies.”
Video obtained by Kansas Reflector shows Masterson lurked by the House door as Republicans led an 87-37 override of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of Senate Bill 368, which offers a tax break for using health care sharing ministries.
In testimony on the bill earlier this year, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association and Blood Cancer United raised concerns about health care sharing ministries being unregulated.
“HCSMs reserve the right to refuse to pay for services related to an individual’s pre-existing conditions, even after accepting the person as a member of the HCSM,” the testimony said. “They do not have to comply with requirements that limit out-of-pocket costs for patients, including caps on coverage, and they frequently exclude coverage of certain benefits.”
In addition, if a person isn’t getting adequate care though a fund, they may not be eligible to enroll in coverage through the Affordable Care Act because that wouldn’t be a qualifying event, the testimony said.
As Rep. Blake Carpenter, R-Derby, announced the vote, Masterson walked over to the ceremonial bell, flipped it to make it ring, and headed back toward his chamber.
Inside the House, Democrats demanded to know who had made the noise.
“We have heard this before,” said Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, D-Overland Park. “I get it. I know that you guys love how difficult it is to override a veto, but ringing a bell, whether it is in the chamber or outside the chamber, is in violation of rules and decorum, especially because we can’t even look like we might be impugning your motives or hurting your feelings.”
She was referring to the way House Republicans frequently admonish Democrats for making pointed comments during heated debates.
“This is a problem. Where was it?” Sawyer Clayton said, pausing for several seconds. “Seriously, you guys. Knock it off.”
It was at least the second time this year that the ringing of the bell interrupted House action. Although it wasn’t clear whether Masterson was involved in the earlier instance. Masterson’s spokesman responded to Kansas Reflector questions by pointing to a social media post.
“We won for families. We won for lower healthcare costs,” Masterson wrote on X. “We will ring that bell every time we put more money back in Kansans’ pockets. No apologies.”
Democrats complained in February when someone rang the bell after the House overrode Kelly’s veto of an anti-trans law. Sawyer Clayton told Kansas Reflector that someone also rang the bell after veto overrides last year.
On Friday, Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita, demanded to make a point of order on the House floor.
“There have been repeated violations of this same nature, violations of decorum, and I ask that the speaker posts the sergeant at arms outside the door to keep watch, and if, in the event, the offenders can be identified, I ask that they be called to account,” Carmichael said. “I want this stopped.”
