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JEFFERSON CITY 鈥� The leader of the Missouri Senate plans to jettison language in the proposed state budget that would bar the state from spending tax dollars on diversity and inclusion initiatives.

A day after House Republicans sparked contentious debate by inserting restrictions on state spending 鈥渁ssociated with diversity, equity (and) inclusion鈥� into their budget plan, Senate President Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, said the framework was a non-starter in his chamber.

He called the provision well-intentioned but said it was 鈥渙verly broad and would result in billions of dollars in cuts to hospitals, health care facilities, colleges and universities, and the Missouri House of Representatives itself.鈥�

鈥淢y office will be working with the governor and other interested parties to find language that will incentivize institutions within this state to encourage environments of merit, fairness and equality that will truly benefit the people of this great state and unite us behind a forward-facing set of ideals motivated by common sense and not by identity politics,鈥� Rowden said in a social media post.

The sponsor of the restrictions, Rep. Doug Richey, R-Excelsior Springs, said Friday the fight isn鈥檛 over. Rather, he believes his proposal will remain alive until work on the budget is complete.

鈥淚 do believe that this language going into Missouri鈥檚 budget bills is a work in progress,鈥� Richey said.

Under the plan, state spending would be banned from going to initiatives that promote 鈥渃ollective guilt,鈥� 鈥渢he concept that disparities are necessarily tied to oppression鈥� and 鈥渋ntersectional or divisive identity activism,鈥� among other concepts.

The language is part of a culture war push by Republicans and has surfaced in other states, including Florida, where GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis is using the subject as part of his presidential bid.

Richey, who is a Baptist minister, said his proposal will combat 鈥渃ritical race theory鈥� and 鈥渘eo-Marxist thought.鈥�

Democrats expressed outrage over the proposal, calling it racist and an affront to state agency heads, who say diversity and inclusion efforts are important in hiring workers within a state government that has 7,000 job openings because of low pay and high turnover.

Examples of how Gov. Mike Parson鈥檚 administration has pressed for diversity and inclusion programs abound throughout state government.

In 2020, records show the Missouri Department of Mental Health sought bids from companies that could help the agency remove barriers that may be keeping 鈥渕arginalized groups鈥� from supervisory, management and senior leadership roles.

鈥淭he Department of Mental Health is seeking an experienced vendor to conduct an organizational assessment of its current practices and readiness for a culture in which prioritizes equity, inclusion and diversity,鈥� the procurement request notes.

During Thursday鈥檚 debate over the limits in the House, Democrats also argued the language could close charter schools and affect health insurance coverage for low-income Missourians.

Rowden鈥檚 decision was announced a day after chief Senate budget writer Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, told reporters he would strip the language from the state鈥檚 $50 billion spending plan.

Although Rowden said he is dumping the House version, he outlined his support for some changes.

鈥淩egular Missourians of all backgrounds and political persuasions are tired of the 鈥榳oke鈥� litmus test being pushed on them from every direction,鈥� Rowden wrote.