Missouri Senate filibuster of map hits 24 hours as hard-right Republicans fight leaders
The Missouri Senate has hit the 24-hour mark in debate on a congressional map that would preserve the current split between Republicans and Democrats as hard-right lawmakers fight to kill the proposal.
A compromise measure put forward by Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, a Columbia Republican, passed 22 to 5 in a test vote just before 5 p.m. The vote on the plan, which would strengthen GOP control of a St. Louis-area district, signals a possible breakthrough after debate began Monday afternoon.
Republican leaders are trying to pass a map likely to maintain the current balance of six Republicans and two Democrats. But a group of hardline GOP senators, called the Conservative Caucus, have insisted legislators pass a 7-1 map and are filibustering a 6-2 map.
The Conservative Caucus held the floor throughout Tuesday afternoon, accusing Republican leadership of refusing to negotiate with them.
“Unless that fight ends up in a reasonable compromise where every side is happy or every side is equally unhappy, then there will be repercussions,’ Sen. Bob Onder, a Lake St. Louis Republican, said. “Not only for that one issue but longer term, for the rest of the session.”
The caucus, fresh from a victory last week when it forced out the state health director for allegedly pressing too aggressively for COVID-19 vaccination, held a rally in the Capitol on Monday before the debate began.
But five hours into debate that night, the Senate rejected an early attempt by the caucus to pass a 7-1 map, which would have split Kansas City from the rest of Jackson County.
The senators have spoken at length over the past day – delivering speeches both on and off-topic. At the same time, they’ve chewed up an entire day of legislative business that could have been used to debate other bills or work on legislation in committee.
Senators have talked about Jim the Wonder Dog, a Llewellin Setter who died in Marshall, Mo., in 1937 and was said to have extraordinary abilities. Sen. Bill Eigel, a Conservative Caucus member from Weldon Springs, read from a book written by the American Enterprise Institute’s former president, Arthur C. Brooks.
For his part, Onder read from Thomas Paine’s writings, and Sen. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican, read articles from the conservative satire website The Babylon Bee.
In addition to readings, hardline Republicans have also called frequent quorum calls, forcing sleepless senators to return to the floor.
Onder has accused his fellow Republicans of “ceding the field” and “surrendering” to what would likely be a lawsuit brought by Democratic groups if a 7-1 map is passed. On Tuesday afternoon, he threatened to extend the filibuster for days.
Rank-and file Republicans have balked at the 7-1 proposal, citing the state constitution’s provisions that districts remain “compact” and “contiguous” and concerns that those GOP districts would contain so many Democratic voters the seats could flip in future elections.
“You’re never going to make everybody happy,” Rowden said Tuesday morning. “There’s no way to massage everything just the right way.”
Democrats have said a 5-3 map would be fairer based on the state’s presidential election results in 2020.
While Minority Leader John Rizzo, of Independence, has said a 6-2 map that keeps Kansas City in one district “could be as far as (Democrats) can maybe take it,” St. Louis-area Democrats have continued pushing to boost minority representation in the 1st Congressional District held by U.S. Rep. Cori Bush.
Rowden’s compromise proposal would maintain the 6-2 split but would also, he said, bolster GOP control of the 2nd Congressional District, which is currently held by Republican U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner.
The Senate approved Rowden’s compromise as an amendment to an amendment offered by Sen. Steven Roberts, a St. Louis Democrat. Roberts then immediately withdrew his amendment over an apparent drafting issue, eliminating Rowden’s proposal with it.
Still, the vote suggested Republican leaders are making progress. Only five senators voted against Rowden’s plan, even though eight senators are in the Conservative Caucus. Two of the caucus members who have backed a 7-1 map were absent for the Tuesday evening vote.
Sen. Andrew Koenig, a Manchester Republican, voted for the plan after supporting a 7-1 map Monday night.
About 20 minutes later, Roberts introduced a “very similar” amendment as his previous one. He and Sen. Karla May, a St. Louis Democrat, stood to hold the floor.
This story was originally published February 8, 2022 at 5:51 PM.
