Senator John Loudon (R-Chesterfield), who was removed as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business, Insurance, and Industrial Relations when he secretly added a controversial provision to a health insurance bill, has been reinstated as the chair of that committee.

An official in the Senate Republican Caucus confirms Senate President Pro-Tem Michael Gibbons (R-Kirkwood) has sent a letter to the Secretary of the Senate, advising that Loudon will once again head the committee.

Gibbons removed Loudon from his chairmanship after Loudon used a procedure known as a legislative tuck to slip a provision legalizing midwifery into a bill dealing with insurance options and extended healthcare.

In exchange for his reinstatement, Loudon has apologized to the Senate for his actions and has promised to introduce legislation, in the upcoming session of the General Assembly, to remove the midwifery provision. A legal challenge to that provision claimed it violated what is known as the Hammerschmidt rule – a requirement that any part of any bill be related to the original purpose and title of the bill. Cole County Circuit Judge Patricia Joyce ruled midwifery went outside the original purpose and title of the bill – a ruling that was subsequently appealed.