Missouri governor withdraws ethics nominees amid fight over gerrymandered map

Gov. Mike Kehoe withdrew two nominees to the Missouri Ethics Commission Tuesday after Democrats pointed out the appointments were based on a congressional map that Republicans contend is no longer valid.

Senate Democrats have refused to allow any gubernatorial appointments to come up for a vote for the past two weeks, arguing that their stall tactics are an effort to restore the chamber’s role as the more deliberative body. Republicans say the move is simply political payback for the Senate GOP invoking a rarely-used rule four times last year to shut down debate.

On Tuesday, Democratic state Sen. Stephen Webber of Columbia raised a formal objection to four nominees to the state’s ethics commission. The appointments are based on congressional districts, Webber noted, and Kehoe relied on the map approved by lawmakers in 2022.

But Republicans are in court arguing that the newly gerrymandered map — which passed four months ago — is in effect. And under that map, two nominees live in the 4th District and two live in the 1st District.





https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-governor-withdraws-ethics-nominees-amid-fight-over-gerrymandered-map/