Kansas Lawmaker Apologizes for Creating Strict Women’s Dress Code

Kansas state Sen. Mitch Holmes apologized Tuesday and retracted a dress code that placed strict limits on women testifying before his committee.

Holmes, the Republican chairman of the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee, issued a statement saying it was not within his right to provide specific instructions on how women should dress without giving similar guidelines for men, according to the Associated Press.

The Kansas Legislature typically allows its committee leaders to set their own rules, the AP reports, but members of both parties were quick to criticize the guidelines, which said “low-cut necklines and mini-skirts” are inappropriate for women.

“My failure to clearly specify that all conferees, regardless of gender, should strive to present themselves professionally is unacceptable,” Holmes said.