The battle for control of the Missouri House is underway. House Speaker Catherine Hanaway of Warson Woods says Republicans are ready to defend their majority in theHouse – a majority won after 48 years in the minority. Hanaway says Republicans knew Democrats wouldn’t be happy with their new status, and knew that would motivate them to campaign hard this year. There are 90 Republicans and 73 Democrats in the House. Representative Rick Johnson of High Ridge took over leadership of House Democrats this session. One of his missions is to devise a successful strategy to return Democrats to power. Johnson says his greatest ally will be an attentive public.