Capitol hosts rally over congressional map; no action expected Tuesday
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Scores of demonstrators rallying against the Missouri Senate leadership's preferred congressional map gathered Tuesday in the Capitol.
However, the Senate declined to take up debate on the map after returning from an unusual and unfruitful weekend session.
The demonstrators rallied in the Capitol rotunda and reports circulated of some protesters driving trucks around the Capitol. It wasn't clear whether the driving protest took place, though organizers had advertised a "freedom convoy" that was to meet at the airport before heading to the Capitol.
The rally was meant to push for a congressional map that would give Missouri seven safe Republican districts and one safe Democratic district in the U.S. House, instead of the current alignment of six GOP districts and two Democratic districts, based in St. Louis and Kansas City.
A group of conservative Republican senators has pushed for the 7-1 map, drawing out the session with a filibuster to prevent a vote on a 6-2 map, which is favored by Majority Leader Caleb Rowden and others in the Senate leadership. Rowden said Tuesday that the map would not be taken up that day but debate could start as early as Wednesday.
Democrats, meanwhile, are pushing for a 5-3 map.
Demonstrators held a prayer session before rallying in the rotunda. Some of them then went to the Senate gallery when that body convened at 2 p.m.
Roger Fries of Ashland said he attended because getting more Republican leadership in the U.S. House is vital with a Democrat as president. The process of settling on a map is a negotiation, he said.
"You don't ask for less and expect to get more," Fries said. "You have to ask for everything you want and then perhaps some place down the line settle for something a little bit less, and that's just the way our political system works."
And another 7-1 supporter says he feels like his senators are not looking out for his best interest.
"I feel like my senator is not supporting. Not looking after my best interest and I also feel like senate leadership including Caleb Rowden have turned their back on the Republican party", said Ashland resident Brat Hilbert.
For now, the clock is ticking for the state to approve a map so candidates know where they can run. Filing to run for congress in Missouri opens next week.
