Missouri legislators have a solution for their sexual harassment problem: a dress code for the interns

Missouri’s state Legislature has a problem. In the past few months, both a state senator and the House Speaker have resigned due to improper conduct around female interns.

The senator sent improper texts to a 19-year-old intern; the Speaker was charged with harassment by two separate interns.

I know what you’re thinking: the interns must be wearing distracting clothing.

That’s what some members of the state House suggested when charged with coming up with a new intern policy to prevent future sexual harassment, according to the Kansas City Star.

Republican Rep. Nick King of Liberty, Mo., was one of several legislators to endorse the idea in an e-mail to colleagues, reported by the Star.

“We need a good, modest, conservative dress code for both the males and females,” King wrote in an email to colleagues. “Removing one more distraction will help everyone keep their focus on legislative matters.”

So the problem here isn’t adult men acting improperly toward young interns: it’s the way interns are dressing. They need to be less distracting.

The idea didn’t make it very far before being nixed by Republican House Speaker Todd Richardson. He pointed out that the House already has a dress code that applies to all members of the staff.

Dress Code

Rule 94. At all times when the House is seated, proper attire for gentlemen shall be business attire, including coat, tie, dress trousers and dress shoes/boots. Proper attire for women shall be dresses or skirts or slacks worn with a blazer or sweater and appropriate dress shoes/boots. This rule shall apply to all members and staff on the floor of the House and lower gallery.

I guess legislators will have to deal with being distracted by how interns dress without sexually harassing them. You know, like adult members of society?