JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - A new Missouri congressional map goes to the governor's desk after it was passed in the House and Senate Wednesday.

The new map would eliminate St. Louis Democratic Representative Russ Carnahan's district.

St. Louis Democratic Senator Robin Wright-Jones refused to sign off on the new map because it only leaves Democrats with two districts.

"I believe that Missouri has been a 50/50 state in its voting patterns and a 6-2 just was not reflective of our real mindset," Wright-Jones said.

Republican Speaker of the House Steven Tilley says the map has enough republican support to override a veto from the governor.

Danielle McCarthy, Missouri Digital News

Read More

Missouri Senate passes prayer in school legislation

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL MEDIA) - A Missouri Senate Committee unanimously passed legislation to allow prayer in public schools and government buildings on Tuesday.

For four years in a row the legislation has made it to the Senate floor, but died there every time.

St. Louis City Democrat Robin Wright-Jones says she has no problem with people praying anywhere.

Wright-Jones voted for the bill in committee and says she does not see any Democratic opposition this year.

"There's just the eight of us and two of us voted for it. I think the others are Roman Catholic men so I don't think they would have a problem, but I don't know for sure," Wright-Jones said.

The House has already passed the bill and the bill's sponsor says he is very optimistic the Senate will pass it too.

Brian Bondus, Missouri Digital News

Read More

Redistricting map passes Senate committee

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - The conflict between urban and rural interests took center stage in the re-districting debate.

The Senate redistricting committee passed the House-proposed map by a vote of 4-3.

Citizens and Senators voiced their concerns over the new map.

Senator Robin Wright-Jones voted against the map. She says Blacks outside of St. Louis and Kansas City would lose their voice in Congress.

“I see that the two Democratic districts are both basically skewed to the eastern or western sides of the state,” Wright-Jones said.

Others say the map would combine too many urban and rural areas. Lafayette county resident Kay Hoflander says the map will dilute the interests of her rural county.

Under the proposed map Lafayette and two other rural counties will be included in a congressional district with urban Kansas City.

But Senate Committee Chair Scott Rupp says it will be difficult to make everyone happy with the map.

“When you have to find the population you're gonna have to share some of the urban and suburban areas where the people are,” Rupp said.

The Committee Chair says the close vote out of his committee means the bill could meet hard opposition on the Senate floor.

Megan McGinnis, Missouri Digital News

Read More

Missouri Senate to debate Right to Work on Monday

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - One of the most divisive issues between businesses and labor groups will be up for debate on Missouri Senate floor Monday.

The Missouri Senate will debate a bill Monday barring employers from forcing workers to pay union fees or dues.

National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation president Mark Mix says letting workers opt out of unions will bring jobs to the state.

"First and foremost it's an individual freedom issue. But secondly, I think it can be demonstrated almost without any argument that freedom in the workplace can translate into a better economic environment," Fix said.

But critics, such as St. Louis Democratic Senator Robin Wright-Jones, say "Right to Work" is actually the "Right to Work for Less," saying the measure would bring lower wages for all workers.

"There's nobody to come to the front of the worker to say this is what we need. There's no bargaining. There's no sit down at the table. And that's how everything is done through compromise. And we've just taken that away," Wright-Jones said.

Wright-Jones says losing those fees would make unions weaker.

She says that cuts their bargaining power and would lead to lower wages.

Elizabeth Hagedorn, Missouri Digital News

Read More