If two KC senators resign, will the city get short shrift in Missouri legislature?

News that Missouri state Sens. Jason Holsman and Shalonn “Kiki” Curls are close to resigning to take full-time state jobs will shock their constituents and should make them angry.

Holsman is expected to take an appointment to the state Public Service Commission, while Curls is set to work for the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission. Gov. Mike Parson is poised to make the appointments, which will need state Senate approval.

Holsman and Curls are both Democrats. Because of term limits, their service in the state Senate is scheduled to end this year.

The new jobs pay $109,000 annually. To take the positions in the governor’s administration, both will have to resign from office. Neither responded to requests for comment.

The practice of offering lucrative, full-time state positions to pesky political opponents is common in Missouri. Two years ago, then-Gov. Eric Greitens removed a thorn from his side by naming then-state Sen. Ryan Silvey to a Public Service Commission job.

We would not begrudge Curls or Holsman the chance to make a living from their service, which has largely been exemplary.

But if both resign before the legislative session ends, virtually every Kansas Citian south of the Missouri River will lack representation in the state Senate for the rest of the year. That’s appalling.

In an interview with The Star, Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh seemed to brush this concern aside. “It won’t change the outcome of what happens on the (Senate) floor,” she said, “because we are already in the super minority.”

That’s true, of course. But individual senators still can have an impact through filibuster and debate.

Thankfully, not every vote in Jefferson City strictly follows party lines. And skillful lawmakers in the minority party are able to win approval for some commonsense measures.

Floor votes and filibusters would be lost as legislative tools for Kansas Citians if Holsman and Curls quit.

Their voices would also be missing from committee hearings, bill markups and hallway discussions where deals are cut. And despite promises to keep offices running, constituent services would likely suffer.

When lobbyists need help with Kansas City-related legislation, where can they turn? It isn’t clear.

All of this underlines the real concern that Kansas Citians should have: They will be underrepresented in the state Capitol if this plan advances.

This is not a small thing. In 2020, Missouri lawmakers will debate ethics reform and redistricting, sports gambling, tax reform, school funding, abortion and a host of other issues. Gun violence will be on the table.

What will be heard from the Kansas City Senate delegation? Mostly crickets.

The governor should postpone the appointments until mid-May, when the regular session is over. Kansas Citians elected Curls and Holsman to represent this area’s best interests, and everyone involved should honor that.