Special session on redistricting Missouri’s congressional map picks up speed
Jazsmin Halliburton
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The special session on redistricting kicked off Wednesday with a quick meeting at noon. Governor Mike Kehoe announced the special session last Friday.
Kehoe unveiled the first map to be considered by the General Assembly at noon Wednesday in Jefferson City. According to a press release, the new Missouri First Map:
Splits fewer counties and municipalities than the current map.
Preserves 2 congressional districts as currently drawn.
Retains every current member of Missouri’s congressional delegation in their current districts.
The state is caught in the middle of a national push to gain more republican seats in the House of Representatives to boost its slim majority. The goal for Missouri Republicans is to split up the mostly blue, Kansas City congressional district, which would give the GOP another seat.
Wednesday’s meeting was less than 10 minutes long. It was only long enough to gavel in, say a prayer, announce the next session and gavel out.
Rep. Elizabeth Fuchs (D-St. Louis) noticed the meeting didn’t have quorum.
After the meeting, Rep. Ashely Aune (D-Kansas City) sent a press release saying the meeting was illegal because of what Fuchs noticed.
Rep. Richard West (R-Wentzville) was in attendance Wednesday afternoon, and he said the meeting was a technical session meaning it doesn’t require a quorum.
Speaker of the House Jon Patterson (R-Lee’s Summit) has put together a redistricting committee, according to a press release. Rep. Kathy Steinhoff (D-Columbia) is a listed member of the committee.
West is also the chair of the redistricting committee, and the committee will meet Thursday at noon. Lawmakers will hear from the public, before they move into executive session and discuss the Missouri First congressional map.
Aune said the Democrats will submit a congressional map from 2022 that would give Democrats an extra seat in Congress.
West said the committee will take a look at it, but it’s not likely that it will make it out of committee because it’s not what the governor wants.
The move to redistrict has been met with criticism, with democratic representatives calling the move outrageous and illegal.
“Well, this whole thing is illegal, it’s disgusting and it’s shameful that this is happening,” Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) said.
Splitting Jackson County would fundamentally alter the Fifth Congressional District, one of two represented by Democrats in Missouri. Emanuel Cleaver, who holds that seat now, said in a statement that “truth is under assault.”
Aune hand delivered a letter to the governor’s office right after the opening session, letting Kehoe know how she stands on the issue.
“This redistricting plan, as you are fully aware, deliberately attempts to dilute the voting power of Missourians in a shameful ploy to seize partisan power,” Aune wrote in the letter.
The Elections Committee will also meet Thursday. This committee will discuss initiative petition reform at 1 p.m.
Representative David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) is on that committee.