As of now, three of those districts would be contained wholly in Boone County -- the 23rd, 24th and 25th districts now held by Democrats Tim Harlan, Chuck Graham and Vicky Riback-Wilson. Two other districts would pick up portions of northern Boone County.
Rep. Tim Harlan, D-Columbia, said, "I have worked closely with Mike in the past and I think the years he spent in the governor's office before will be helpful to him in working with the legislature."
The arena has cleared many hurdles since the legislative session began in January. Doubts about the donor have plagued the resolution, as well as dissent among the Columbia delegation in the House. Democratic Reps. Vicky Riback Wilson and Tim Harlan voted against the measure.
The substitute proposal addressed criticism from Reps. Vicky Riback Wilson, and Tim Harlan, both Democrats from Columbia, who were concerned about imposing additional financial burdens on taxpayers in a tight budget year. The new version of the bill would defer bond appropriations until 2005.