Missouri House passes bill to create ‘Rush Limbaugh Day’

Missouri state lawmakers voted on Thursday to pass a bill that would create “Rush Limbaugh Day” in honor of the late conservative radio show host.

The state’s GOP-led House voted to add a provision for the holiday to an existing bill that would recognize “the first full week in September of each year as ‘Fox Trotter Week’ in Missouri.” The bill will be sent to the state Senate for further approval, according to The Associated Press.

With the provision, Limbaugh would be honored on his birthday, Jan. 12, every year. The late radio host died in February at the age of 70.

Supporters of the bill lauded Limbaugh as a conservative icon and praised his ability to “speak boldly.”

“Rush demonstrated courage to speak boldly and encouraged his listeners and viewers to reach for their dreams and to push onward beyond the naysayers and discouragers that we all encounter in life,” state Rep. Sara Walsh (R) told AP.

Democratic state lawmakers, however, opposed the move. State Rep. Ashley Bland Manlove (D) slammed Limbaugh for his “constant attacks on Black people and other people of color,” the AP reported.

She also noted that Missouri’s GOP lawmakers added the provision for Rush Limbaugh Day to a bill that also seeks to honor famous Black Missourians including George Washington Carver and Buck O’Neil.

Republican state Sen. Holly Rehder proposed a similar bill last month that called for Missourians to celebrate Limbaugh by “participating in appropriate events and activities to remember the life of the famous Missourian and groundbreaking radio host.”