State Senate Leaders Plan Strategy For Upcoming Session

It’s the time of year for olive branches to be extended at the State Capitol. But, the olives are sometimes bitter. The nastiness of the campaign is done, says conventional wisdom. Now it’s time for members of the House and Senate and the Governor to make nice remarks about cooperating with one another in a bipartisan manner for the good of the people of the state. And, in the hallways and offices at the Capitol, where Republicans have seized firm control of the Legislature, there is some of that from the now-minority Democrats and the now-majority Republicans. But sometimes they just can’t help themselves.Senate Leader Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau, a Republican, is taking aim at Governor Holden. The new Senate Minority Leader, Ken Jacob of Columbia, says Democrats will watch Republicans to see what they do about campaign promises they made and how they follow through on the things they said Democrats have done wrong. Senate Majority Leader Michael Gibbons says Republicans will be leaders, not just people preserving their majority. Both sides say they’ll cooperate.