The senate finishes its part of the last-days effort to delay filing for statewide and legislative offices by a month.
The bill heads to the House where some members are said to be reluctant to take action.
Filing is to start February 28th. But a Senate redistricting commission is not expected to have a map of new districts until mid-March. Senate sponsor Mike Parson of Bolivar says he has heard some House members don’t want to delay filing, although he hopes the House leadership doesn’t let them block passage.
Cape Girardeau Senator Jason Crowell refers to the reluctant House members as “cowards” and says they don’t want possible opponents have another month to consider running against them.
The citizens commission drawing new lines holds its first meeting Saturday at the capitol.
Challenges to the maps for House and Congressional districts are still in the courts. The Missouri Supreme Court heard the challenge to congressional districts today.
The House has scheduled a technical session tomorrow to accept the filing delay bill and other measures approved today by the Senate.
AUDIO: Final Passage debate 21:08
