News

A Missouri House committee has rejected a proposal to downsize its own chamber.

The proposed constitutional amendment would have reduced the state House from 163 members to 103 members starting in 2015. A House committee voted Thursday to reject the plan.

Critics have expressed concerns that the smaller number of lawmakers would mean the public would not be as effectively represented.

Supporters say that reducing the number of lawmakers would help state government save money.

The "Mancession" of 2009 is finally giving way to a "Mancovery." But the jobs picture for women is going in the opposite direction.

Check out this feature about gender asymmetry in the jobs "recovery" from our own Adam Allington. It aired on Marketplace Morning Report today.

The so-called Aerotropolis bill has received first-round approval in the Missouri House.   If passed, it would provide up to $480 million in tax credits to encourage global air trade via St. Louis, including incentive for companies to build storage facilities near Lambert International Airport.  It’s sponsored by GOP House Member Caleb Jones of Moniteau County.

Nixon Proposal Would Boost Oversight of Dog Breeders

Governor Jay Nixon proposed Wednesday to add $1.1 million to the state budget to hire 10 more inspectors, investigators, veterinarians and office staff for the Department of Agriculture program that regulates dog-breeding facilities. Nixon's office says the state currently spends about $600,000 a year on such efforts. The Senate Appropriations Committee considered the agriculture budget Wednesday but took no action on Nixon's proposal.

The Missouri House has given first-round approval to a Republican-proposed map that would redraw the state’s congressional districts, reducing them from nine to eight.

It eliminates the St. Louis-area district currently held by Democrat Russ Carnahan.