Last week, proceedings on the House floor were abruptly suspended for two hours after Republican Nick Hoheisel walked into the Democratic side of the House chambers, put his finger in Rep. Ford Carr’s face and began shouting at him.

In response, Rep Ford Carr has filed a formal complaint against Hoheisel and a committee of legislators – three Republicans and three Democrats – have been selected to hear his complaint.

Carr said it appeared Hoheisel’s disagreement with him was based on irritation about Carr’s remark about racism.

“I can only guess,” Carr said. “Because I had gotten up earlier that day, 15 minutes before, and asked a carrier of a bill several questions. I thanked that carrier for not being a particular kind of individual.”

Carr had spoken to the entire House about his views of racism in politics. Carr used the House chamber’s debate microphone to address Rep. Bill Rhiley of Wellington on a bill Rhiley was carrying.

“It’s good to see that there are some members of the Republican party that are either not racist enough that they don’t mind coming to answer my questions, or not so fearful they wouldn’t either.”

In Carr’s filed complaint, he wrote.

“He came and immediately began yelling profanity. He repeatedly yelled ‘bullshit’.

Upon reaching my seat he stopped, leaned over, rose his hand and put a finger in my face while yelling ‘Representative Carr that’s Bullshit. Don’t you ever talk about any of my colleagues that way.’”

Carr characterizes Hoheisel’s actions as “uncalled for, inappropriate and in direct violation of the rules of the House.

In response to Carr’s complaint, House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, has appointed the special committee of three Republicans and three Democrats. The committee held a brief organizational meeting on Friday and gave the two lawmakers until Monday to provide witness lists and other documents related to the altercation.

The committee has the option of dismissing the complaint or recommending the full House consider reprimanding or ousting Hoheisel. Republicans hold a supermajority of more than two-thirds of House seats.

Hoheisel didn’t attend the special committee’s organizational meeting, but Carr did. Carr said in an interview he planned to call witnesses who observed Hoheisel’s behavior and statements.

After the conclusion of the brief organizational meeting, Carr said in an interview he was uncertain whether the select committee would give his complaint a fair hearing. He said it wasn’t clear whether House Republicans would counter by submitting a complaint against Carr.

Asked if he believed the Republican-appointed special investigative committee would be fair.

“I rarely think a man of color gets a fair shake anyway,” Carr said. “However, I’m not necessarily concerned with the shake being fair. There comes a time where you need to stand on principles. You have to teach people how to treat you. You have to show people that not everyone is going to cower and stay silent. If not me, today, then someone tomorrow. I’m standing today so someone else doesn’t have to go through this tomorrow.”

Bob Lewis of Garden City, who is one of Republicans on the committee, said the select investigative committee would operate in a manner similar to a legislative committee, but the process could borrow features from judicial proceedings.

“First and foremost, we will expect and insist on decorum,” said Lewis, an attorney. “We will insist that it be strictly observed by all participants and the audience. Any hint of disturbance or behavior unbecoming of the Kansas House of Representatives will be met with swift action by me, and if necessary, the person or persons responsible will be removed from the proceedings.”

Gordon Self, who serves as the Legislature’s revisor of statutes, said the House had total control of determining whether members were sanctioned for legislative conduct.

“I’m very serious when I say that,” he said. “The House deals with its members. Not the Senate. Not the Legislature as a whole. Not the courts. At this juncture, this is a House matter to be decided by the House.”

In wake of the disruption on the House floor Feb. 20, GOP House leadership ordered a two-hour recess and pulled several controversial bills from the debate calendar. Carr reported the incident to Capital Police prior to submitting his complaint Wednesday alleging Hoheisel engaged in “uncalled for, inappropriate” conduct “in direct violation of the rules of the House.”