MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
The Missouri Attorney General issued an opinion stating that Governor Bob Holden must fill a Republican vacancy on the state redistricting commissions.
Renny MacKay has more from Jefferson City.
The vacancy on the commissions came about when the governor named Republican Representative Mark Richardson to serve on the commissions that will draw up the new maps for the state's legislative districts.
But a month before that Richardson had asked not to be considered for the position and the fact that Holden ignored his wishes angered Republicans.
But this opinion by the Attorney General pleased Peter Kinder the Republican leader of the Senate.
The governor says he'll work with Republicans to come up with a replacement.
In Jefferson City, Renny MacKay.
The top Missouri Senate Republican is pleased with the Attorney General's opinion, which attempts to end a conflict over redistricting of the state's legislative districts.
Renny MacKay has more from Jefferson City.
Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder let it be known he was upset with the governor after he named a Republican to the redistricting commission who asked not to be considered.
The opinion by the Attorney General makes the governor fill that position with another Republican. That's a good sign according to Kinder.
The decision by the Attorney General doesn't stipulate who the Governor must name, but whoever he does choose will have to be confirmed by the Republican controlled Senate.
In Jefferson City, Renny MacKay.
The leading Republican in the Senate says the governor asked him to support a transportation plan in exchange for naming a Republican replacement to two redistricting panels. The governor says that's a lie.
Renny MacKay has more from Jefferson City.
The conversation in question took place in a closed door meeting between Republican leaders and the governor hours after the Attorney General offered the opinion that the constitution mandates the governor name a replacement to the redistricting panels.
The panels are supposed to be made up of equal members of each party. But, the Republicans have one less member because the governor named a Republican to the panels who had already said he wouldn't serve.
Peter Kinder, the President Pro Tem of the Senate says he thought the meeting was going to be about the panels, but instead the governor kept trying to link the conversation to his transportation plan.
The Attorney General's opinion didn't specify that the governor must name a Republican, but Kinder does say the governor promised him he would name a Republican to the panel, but didn't say when.
In Jefferson City, Renny MacKay.
The top Republican in the Missouri Senate and the governor are making conflicting statements about what happened in a closed door meeting about redistricting commissions.
Renny MacKay has the story from Jefferson City.
The Republican leaders of the House and Senate met with the governor to discuss the Attorney General's opinion. That opinion states the governor must fill a vacancy on two redistricting commissions. Those commissions are supposed to have the same number of people from each party, but the Republicans are short a person on each commission.
Senator Peter Kinder says the governor tried to get him to trade votes for the governor's transportation plan in exchange for filling the vacancies with a Republican. But, he does admit that a trade was never explicitly stated.
The governor says it's a lie that he tried to make deal, but does say he asked for support for his transportation plan. The governor also says he'll name two Republicans to the commissions in the next few days.
The commission is supposed to meet on Saturday and the governor made no promise that a replacement would be named by then.
In Jefferson City, Renny MacKay.
The top Republican in the Missouri Senate is accusing the governor of trying to get Republican votes for his transportation plan in exchange for a political appointment. The governor calls this a fabrication.
Renny MacKay has more from Jefferson City.
The political appointment is to a redistricting panel, that will draw up new legislative districts in Missouri. The panel must have an equal number of Democrats and Republicans. Right now the Republicans have one less member than the Democrats.
But the Attorney General ruled that the governor must name someone to fill the vacancy. Republican Senator Peter Kinder says the governor tried to get him to trade his vote for the governor's transportation plan in exchange for appointing a Republican to the panel.
The governor's communication director, Jerry Nachtigal says that's not true.
Nachtigal says the governor will name a Republican to the panel in the next few days.
In Jefferson City, Renny MacKay.
Accusations are flying between the governor and Republican leader of the Senate after a decision by the Attorney General.
Renny MacKay has more from the state capitol.
The Attorney General ruled that the governor must appoint someone to fill two vacancies on redistricting panels. The panels are supposed to have equal numbers of members from each party, but the vacancies are both on the Republican side.
Republican leaders met with the governor to discuss filling this position. This is where the accusations stem from.
Republican Senator Peter Kinder says the governor used the meeting to try and get him to agree to support his transportation plan, instead of talking about filling the vacancies.
Jerry Nachtigal, the governor's communications director says this is a fabrication.
Nachtigal says Kinder is prone to exagerating.
In Jefferson City, Renny MacKay.