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
There was no cheering crowd of Democrats to welcome Koster in toe Senate's chamber as a newly-minted Democrat.
The Senate's Democratic leader said she welcomed him into the fold, but Maida Coleman said Koster still needs to prove himself to fellow members.
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| Description: He will not be able to take for granted that he is well received by everyone. We're glad he's here but he's going to have to work hard to show he is deserving of our trust. |
One reason for the Democratic concern is Koster's support of Republican issues like abortion restrictions, Medicaid cuts and requiring a photo-ID to vote.
Reporting from the Capitol, Amy Becker, KMOX news.
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The special session of Missouri's legislature began with a new Democrat in the General Assembly -- former Republican Senator Chris Koster. Amy Becker has the story.
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The western Missouri senator said it was like any other, normal business day in the legislature.
But it was not that normal. It's the first time in more than a generation that a legislator had switched parties.
But Koster says it should not have been a surprise:
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| Description: I think that it was well known that I had certain things that I believed in, that my personal political compass pointed more to the center than the rest of the caucuses did. |
In the meantime, the Republican leadership has stripped Koster of all his committee seats. It's now up to the Democratic caucus to decide which seats, if any, Koster will get as a new Democrat.
Koster met with the Democrats during a closed door meeting, but no decisions were announced.
Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Amy Becker, KMOX news.