Senate committee votes redistricting, initiative petition reform out of committee, onto Senate floor
Alison Patton
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Senate committee passed both special session bills, redistricting and initiative petition reform, with a vote of 6-2.
The two Democratic members on the committee offered amendments to the proposed bills. One amendment would have kept U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s (D-MO) district contained to Kansas City.
Cleaver testified in opposition to the redistricting map that would vastly change his district on Thursday before a Missouri Senate committee. Some Democrats believe the proposed fifth district would leave Cleaver without a seat.
The “Missouri First” map submitted by Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe would carve up Cleaver’s district into three districts and stretch into Mid-Missouri.
Cleaver testified that he noticed right away that the map cuts through the city along Troost Avenue, a street historically associated with racial segregation.
“This is tearing those communities apart again,” Cleaver said. “I don’t have the words to tell you how damaging that is.”
Cleaver said he’s been working to erase the racial barrier the street represents.
“How could we possibly be pushed back into the 1950s?” Cleaver said.
Sen. Sandy Crawford (R-Dallas County) asked Cleaver if he saw any benefits to the proposed map. Cleaver said the state shouldn’t even be redistricting outside of a census year. Cleaver also said his constituents oppose what state lawmakers are doing.
The Missouri Local Government, Elections and Pensions committee will also review House Joint Resolution 3 and hear testimony from citizens.
HJR3 would reform the initiative petition process. Republicans want to make it harder to change the Missouri Constitution by requiring a citizen-initiated ballot measure to be approved by a majority of people in each of the eight congressional districts. Currently, ballot measures pass with a simple majority.
The Senate met Wednesday and passed new rules for the special session. The new rules change the order in which business is conducted. When the Senate meets again Friday morning, for what some Republicans believe to be the final vote on the bills, senators will start with House of Representatives communications and review the House bills.
Under the old rules, Senators would go through resolutions before reviewing their own rules.