Richard Ray Brattin Jr. (born July 22, 1980) is an American politician serving as a Republican state senator from the U.S. state of Missouri, representing the 31st district taking up Cass, Bates, Barton, Henry, and Vernon Counties.[1] He is a former state representative, having served three terms in the Missouri House of Representatives. He represented Missouri's 55th Legislative District, which encompasses several suburbs of Kansas City in Cass County, including Raymore, Peculiar, and Lake Winnebago. He is currently Vice Chairman of the Corrections and Consumer Affairs committees.
In December 2014, Brattin proposed legislation that would require women seeking abortions in Missouri to obtain written consent from the father of the fetus, except in cases of "legitimate rape."[3][4] Brattin cited his own recent vasectomy as his inspiration for the legislation.[3]
In Feb 2024, while debating an amendment to allow abortions for rape or incest, Brattin advocated that a rape victim be forced to carry the rapist's fetus to term. He indicated supporting the death penalty for rapists, and suggested that the resulting baby, "by God’s grace, may even be the greatest healing agent you need in which to recover from such an atrocity."[5]
Education
In 2013, Brattin sponsored legislation that would afford equal treatment in textbooks for intelligent design and evolution.[6]
In January 2017, Brattin proposed a bill to end tenure in public universities in Missouri.[7] The bill would also "require public colleges to publish estimated costs of degrees, employment opportunities expected for graduates, average salaries of previous graduates, and a summary of the job market, among other things."[7]
Free speech
In 2015, in response to a protest by the University of Missouri football team related to campus discrimination, Brattin proposed a bill that would strip a college athlete of their scholarship if the athlete "calls, incites, supports or participates in any strike or concerted refusal to play a scheduled game."[8]
In 2021, the state senator proposed a bill that would target unlawful assemblies, including the use of deadly force against protesters on private property.[9]
Homosexuality
In 2017, Brattin made a statement on the Missouri House floor that "When you look at the tenets of religion, of the Bible, of the Qur’an, of other religions, there is a distinction between homosexuality and just being a human being."[10] The Kansas City Star called his position intolerant and said in an editorial, "The statement, made on the Missouri House floor, was deplorable. It betrayed a stunning lack of understanding of theology and self-government: The Constitution protects all Americans from the tyranny of any single faith-based approach to secular law."[11]
Medicaid
In 2024, Brattin participated in a 25 hour filibuster of taxes necessary to fund Medicaid, citing his concerns about abortion, which is already illegal in Missouri. Republicans Lincoln Hough and Mike Parson described the act as "pathetic political gamesmanship" and "deliberate dysfunction."[12]
Welfare
In February 2015, Brattin introduced Missouri House Bill 813,[13] reading "A recipient of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits shall not use such benefits to purchase cookies, chips, energy drinks, soft drinks, seafood, or steak."[14]
Defamation lawsuit
In April 2024, Brattin was sued for defamation by Denton Loudermill of Olathe, Kansas, after Brattin posted a picture of Loudermill in handcuffs on social media, falsely identifying him as an undocumented immigrant and as a "shooter" at the 2024 Kansas City parade shooting.[15] At a news conference in February 2024, Brattin stated that he and others who shared false information about the shooting had nothing to apologize for.[15]
Electoral history
State representative
Missouri House of Representatives Election, November 2, 2010, District 124[16]
^ abZamudio-Suaréz, Fernanda (January 13, 2017). "Lawmakers in 2 States Propose Bills to Cut Tenure". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved January 13, 2017. Missouri House Bill 266 isn't exclusively about cutting tenure. The bill would also require public colleges to publish estimated costs of degrees, employment opportunities expected for graduates, average salaries of previous graduates, and a summary of the job market, among other things.
