grace25 asked

Was Missouri state Representative Rod Jetton right to make his outburst during Governor Bob Holdon's state of the state address?

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- For several minutes, state Rep. Rod Jetton sat stewing in his prestigious back-row seat of the House chamber as Gov. Bob Holden repeatedly criticized Republican lawmakers for cuts in aid to public schools. Then, frustrated after Democrats applauded another of Holden's jabs, Jetton did something rather unusual. Taking advantage of a brief pause in the Democratic governor's State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature, Jetton yelled. 'Release the money, governor!' shouted Jetton, a Marble Hill resident who as Speaker Pro Tem is the second-ranking Republican in the House. At Jetton's break from decorum, fellow Republicans stood and applauded. Veteran lawmakers and political observers could not recall another instance of a lawmaker heckling a governor during a State of the State address. Rep. Mark Abel of Festus, who was Speaker Pro Tem when Democrats controlled the chamber two years ago, called the interjection 'totally out of line.' House Democratic Leader Rick Johnson immediately rushed over to Jetton and animatedly expressed his disapproval. 'That's just bad manners,' Johnson, of High Ridge, said in an interview after Holden's speech. Jetton defended his action, saying no apology was necessary because he believes Holden was stretching the truth about school cuts. Jetton's remarks were a suggestion for Holden to release appropriated money that he has withheld from education because he considers the Republican-crafted budget to be unbalanced. 'I was in no way trying to be disrespectful to him,' Jetton explained later. 'I just couldn't take it any longer.' Rather than admonishing Jetton for the outburst, House Speaker Catherine Hanaway, R-Warson Woods, offered praise. 'If the governor comes before the General Assembly and uses his constitutionally authorized duty, mandate, to report on the State of the State as an opportunity to mislead the public, then I think it is perfectly appropriate

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