A typically boring administrative session of the Colorado state house erupted into a shoutfest after a Republican member of the body making a comment on an amendment referred to another member as “Buckwheat”.

A live video stream and a string of tweets from Colorado Sun reporter Thy Anh Vo detail Republican legislator Richard Holtof of Akron taking the podium to debate the “safety clause” of the committee procedure.  During the session, Holtof commented on a number of issues, from state funding for the arts and television production to complaining about the condition of state roads.  In this case, he started talking about “rules of engagement” and “laws of proportional response;” the safety clause in the Colorado legislation, however, has nothing to do with firearms but is a parliamentary procedure to speed legislation through.

Another member of the assembly commented off camera what Holtof’s comments had to do with the safety clause, to which Holtof responded, “I’m getting there, don’t worry, Buckwheat, I’m getting there.”

Other members in the house can be heard immediately responding in disgust, to which Holtof says, “That’s an endearing term, by the way.”  The sitting speaker chastises Holtof, but the blowback continues, with Holtof repeatedly asking, “Why are you yelling at me?”

Known for frequent rambling, nonsensical speeches on the house floor, Holtof went to the state house in 2019, appointed to fill the term of a member who had died.  He was elected to keep the seat in 2020.