State Rep. calls closed session for school transfer bill

State Representative Joshua Peters Wednesday called for a closed session within the House to discuss Senate Bill 493 that deals with students transferring out of unaccredited districts.

“This is a vitally important discussion that shouldn’t involve lobbyists or interest groups or any of the external influences that too often drive education discussions away from what really matters – the best interests of our young people. Instead, we need to sit down together as a legislative body and have an honest, thorough dialogue about what we can do to ensure every child in Missouri receives a quality education,” said Peters in a news release.

Peters added, “What we have had in the past is lobbyists and even senators pressuring members of the House, in the halls and the very side galleries. It makes a mockery of having a serious, free and open debate. On such a serious issue as this I would prefer to see less meddling from special interests and more serious legislating.”

The official Missouri House of Representatives doesn’t include a motion to call the bodyinto closed session, there is a rule that applies to the state that is also governed by the rules of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The U.S. House rules allow any member to make a motion to call the state House into a closed session to discuss issues the member feels should be considered in confidence.

Peters noted the importance of the school transfer issue to justify deviating from the regular procedures.