Senate leaders still at odds

Almost two months after the election that left the state senate without a bill-passing majority, the issue of whether the two parties can come up with a power-sharing arrangement remains an issue. In addition, the Republican leadership argues the Lieutenant Governor’s powers to break tie votes are limited. Lieutenant Governor Joe Maxwell has met with Republican leader Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau. They talked, but they didn’t agree. Republicans outnumber democrats in the state senate 16-15. It takes 18 votes to pass a bill. Special elections later this month will put the senate at full strength.