Missouri Republican Supermajority Sits on Slippery Slope

Missouri's legislative session started on Wednesday to much fanfare from the state's Republican Party due to a veto-proof supermajority for the GOP. Yet the Southeast Missourian pointed out Sunday that the Republicans must still exercise caution when the group tries to pass legislation around Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon's vetoes. Republicans need to hold onto 109 seats out of 163 in the Missouri House. Even losing one vote means at least one Democrat must be on board. Several things can occur to lessen the number of House Republicans.

* Nixon can appoint members to state boards or judicial positions. The governor has appointed Republicans to state positions before, according to the news media outlet. Don Ruzicka of Mount Vernon was the most recent Republican appointee from Nixon. Any vacancies, for whatever reason, are filled by special elections. Democrats can try to win such openings.

* Democrat Tom Todd may win a seat once an election snafu is resolved. The Daily Dunklin Democrat reported Thursday that the Missouri Supreme Court has yet to rule on a contested election in Missouri's 150th House District. Ballots were distributed to wrong precincts due to redistricting. The Secretary of State's office rule the election invalid and temporarily gave the election victory to Republican Kent Hampton. If current litigation stands, two precincts in the 150th District will have to re-vote for either candidate.

* Rep. Jo Ann Emerson is retiring, leaving her seat open for a special election. A Republican committee in the Eighth District in southeast Missouri must choose a viable candidate for the seat. Two members of the Missouri House are included in those seeking Emerson's spot in Congress. House Speaker Pro Tem Jason Smith and state Rep. Todd Richardson want the seat. Ed Martin, head of the state party, told the Southeast Missourian the GOP wants the "best person" in the Eighth District seat.

* Even if a House member isn't selected to fill Emerson's seat, one statewide office could be vacant in the process. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reveals Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder is considered a front-runner for the GOP's place on the ballot to succeed Emerson. Should Kinder be elected, a Republican from the House could be chosen to take his place.

* The Missouri GOP touts its "conservative principles" that led voters to sweep in "veto-proof majorities" in both chambers of the General Assembly "for the first time in [Missouri] history." Martin further said it is the job of Republicans to protect Missourians from "higher taxes" while "creating an economic environment that attracts new businesses... ."

* Another goal of the state GOP is to prevent "frivolous lawsuits that drive good doctors out of the state." Tort reform is part of the overall agenda of state Republicans.

* Keeping the supermajority in line won't be easy. The Associated Press notes nearly one-third of General Assembly members are brand new to Jefferson City politics. If the past two years are any indication, even Republicans fought among themselves when trying to pass legislation over Nixon vetoes.

* Nixon begins his second term when he takes the oath of office at noon Monday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch . With the exception of Kinder, every statewide elected office from November went to Democrats. The piece described Nixon as "bold" going into his second and last term as governor. Nixon has little to lose politically by sticking to his principles -- he can't run for governor again because of term limits.

William Browning is a research librarian specializing in U.S. politics.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/missouri-republican-supermajority-sits-slippery-slope-174000033.html

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