Legislative session kicks off amid protests
The 98 th General Assembly convened for the 2015 session Wednesday in Jefferson City and not everything went as planned. The session began at noon only to be interrupted by protestors who were holding signs and chanting in the Senate Chamber.
The protesters said they interrupted the proceedings to protest the criminal justice system and it how works against African-Americans, among other reasons. Lt. Governor Peter Kinder called a brief recess while state troopers removed the protestors from the chamber.
After the recess, 17 senators were sworn in at a ceremony attended by family and friends. During the ceremony, Senate Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, laid out his priorities for the 2015 session. Dempsey said education is at the top of the list. “The urgency for reform and educational opportunity has never been greater,” said Dempsey. “I know reform is difficult, but I also know reform is right because quality education changes lives. Every child matters, and every child deserves the opportunity to succeed.”
On the other side of the rotunda, the Missouri House voted Rep. John Diehl, R-Town and Country, the next House speaker. Diehl and his fellow Republicans make up the largest Republican majority in House history, outnumbering Democrats 117-45. In the House and the Senate, Republicans hold a veto-proof majority, meaning they have enough votes to override a veto from Gov. Jay Nixon.
After his annual prayer breakfast, Nixon said he wants to accomplish a lot during the 2015 session, and looks forward to working with Republicans in the Senate and the House. “I appreciate deeply the need to do that in a bipartisan fashion – to get things done. We’ve gotten a lot accomplished over the years,” said Nixon.
The 2015 regular session will run through May 15.
