Kansas lawmaker under fire for dress code that singles out women
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A Kansas lawmaker has imposed a strict dress code that has enraged many of the women he works with.
State Sen. Mitch Holmes (R) created an 11-point code of conduct, prohibiting women who testify on bills from wearing clothing with deep necklines, miniskirts and other "distracting" garments.
Holmes, 53, said the need for the restrictions is necessary because certain articles of clothing pose a distraction. Yet, the guidelines don't specify a minimum skirt length or a permissible neckline for blouses.
"Who's going to define low-cut?" said Sen. Vicki Schmidt, a Topeka Republican. "Does it apply to senators?"
Wichita Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau agrees that people testifying before committees should dress professionally, but she doesn't think the lack of consistency for men and women is appropriate or fair.
"In my 13 years in the Legislature, that's the first time I've ever read anything like that," Faust-Goudeau told the Associated Press. "I thought it was a little strange."
"I am more interested in what they have to say about the direction our state should go than what they're wearing that day," said Sen. Carolyn McGinn (R).
