JEFFERSON CITY — The Senate was set to convene for a rare Saturday work session with the chamber still mired in disagreement Friday over Missouri’s next congressional map.
Sen. , R-Lake Saint Louis, held the floor on Friday in order to stop GOP leaders from bringing up a map that the House approved last month, which would give Republicans six seats and Democrats two seats in the state’s U.S. House delegation.
The Senate went into recess before 3:30 p.m. on Friday and had plans to return Friday evening. The chamber reconvened at about 6:30 p.m. and quickly adjourned for the day without taking any action.
But even as Onder delayed debate, Senate President Pro Tem , R-Sullivan, said he remained confident a resolution could be found.
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“There are people who have been actively working on scenarios and maps and trying to knock down barriers. We have to have those conversations, and it just takes time. We’re going to continue to have those conversations,†Schatz said.
“There are times when we get positive movement, but then we take a step back,†Schatz said. “There has been progress. I’m optimistic. But there are so many people who have a say in this thing that it makes it challenging.â€
The once-per-decade debate over the boundaries of congressional districts has split the chamber into factions.
The all-male group of Republican senators who call themselves the “Conservative Caucus†want to gerrymander a 7-1 map that leaves just one safe Democratic district in 51ºÚÁÏ.
They include two St. Charles County members, Sens. and . Sens. of Warrensburg, of Harrisonville and of Ash Grove also have been prominent in their push for the map.
Sen. , R-Manchester, who is considered part of the group, has not been as active during floor debate. Another member, Sen. , R-Battlefield, is running for Congress and says he wants to keep his distance from the debate.
Eigel said Koenig and Sen. , R-Shelbina, have been active in trying to find a compromise.
Onder indicated during floor debate that he could eventually support a 6-2 map.
While Onder and Eigel have sought to place St. Charles County into one district, Hoskins has argued that the state’s two large military bases — Whiteman Air Force Base and Fort Leonard Wood — should be in the same district, as they are currently.
The chamber’s 10 Democrats, meanwhile, have said the partisan makeup of Missouri should result in a 5-3 map.
But Senate Minority Leader , D-Independence, has signaled that they will accept a 6-2 map for now in hopes of gaining a seat in upcoming congressional elections.
The 11 women in the chamber, a bipartisan mix, also have weighed in, saying the name-calling and acrimony generated by the hard-line conservatives are not good for the chamber.
And the so-called regular Republicans have indicated support for a 6-2 map.
Updated at 6:36 p.m. Friday.
