SPONSOR: Deaton
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Special Committee on Redistricting by a vote of 10 to 4. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules-Legislative by a vote of 7 to 3.
This bill creates boundaries for the eight Missouri Congressional districts beginning with the election of the 120th Congress of the United States.
The Congressional district map corresponding to the bill is posted on the public bill page for the Missouri House of Representatives.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this congressional district map is more compact and splits fewer municipalities than the current map. The map meets every constitutional and legal requirement in Federal and State law. The map keeps each congressperson’s address within the district that person currently represents. The map puts Missouri first and increases the likelihood of another pro life legislator being elected to Congress from Missouri. No law has ever required proportional representation in Congress.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Deaton; Missouri Right To Life; and Martin White.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that redistricting mid- decade isn’t permitted under Missouri law unless it is the result of a court order. The bill is incomprehensible to any person who doesn’t have access to sophisticated mapping software. The map is an illegal gerrymander and divides communities only for partisan gain. The map puts the needs of Federal politicians above the concerns of Missouri residents. Opponents say this map is a power grab by a political party that can’t rely on the popularity of its policy agenda to win elections. Redistricting in this manner undermines democratic norms and contributes to public distrust of elected officials.
Testifying in person against the bill were Aunesty Janssen, Asherah Productions; Florence A Mckinley; Jennifer Maranz; Michael A Kettner; Mordecai, Missouri Works Center; American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri; Lynne Bratcher; Norma Sue Trabue; Jacob Helaman Herrera; Mahler David; Denise Lieberman, Missouri Voter Protection Coalition; Arnie C. Dienoff; May Hall; Suzanne Luther; James Fiqueroa-Robnett Jr, Missouri State Conference of the NAACP; Sarah Starnes; Jessie Clark; Evanglist Dr. Anastasia Syes, JECM Foundation Jehovah-Elyon Christian Ministries; Joshua H. Welker; Meredith Sumenek; Dewey Welk; Joshua Dunne, Missouri Democratic Party Rural Caucus; Dan Schaefer; Karl Tray; Kristen Ellis Johnson; Abigail Herndon; Natalie Hosto; Rebecca G. Kroll; Perrin Dowse; Jennie Loomis; Jacob Killian; Karen Pasley; Ansai Chowdhury; Jen Bernstein, National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis; Susan Gibson; Weston Marks; Marilyn Mcleod; Christian Kasten; Webster Davis, Missouri NAACP; Joshua Heeter; Carolyn Niswonger, Sierra Club-Mo Chapter; Brian Kaylor; Peggy Placier, Jobs With Justice Mid Mo; Kerry Clark; Erik "Sonja" Wilberding; City of Kansas City; Timothy Fitzpatrick; Glenda Bainbridge; Donnita Patterson-Brown, Mo Voter Coalition / Mo National Association For The Advancement of Colored People; Jon Stambaugh; Larry R. Bradley; Dan Greeson; Linda E. Greeson; Abortion Action Missouri; Sarah E. Felts, JD, Planned Parenthood Great Rivers Action; Mikaela; Geoff Jolley; Powerful Performance Solutions, Inc.; Phillip P. Scaglia, for U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-S); Marie Carlson; Trivia Jostlein; Linda Norman Martin; Paul Bannes; Lanata Miller; Paul Francis Brennan; Charlotte Folsom; Jennie Loomis; Theresa Nicolosi; Betty Aulabaugh, None; Glenda Bainbridge; Carla Trowbridge Klein; Vicki Irsik; Missouri NEA; Kathryn Hamacher; David Coleman; Donnita L Patterson- Brown; Jacob Moyer; and Sarah L Starnes.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: