Members of the Missouri House of Representatives prepare for session to begin on March 12. A total of 163 members now serve state districts in the House.
JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri House of Representatives is made up of 163 members, the fourth most of any state.
Sen. Travis Fitzwater, R-Holts Summit, is looking to change the institution he once served in.
kAmu:EKH2E6C 92D :?EC@5F465 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D6?2E6]>@]8@G^ac:?7@^A573:==^:?EC@^$y#f_]A57Q E2C86ElQ03=2?
kAm%96 C6D@=FE:@?[ 7:CDE 962C5 😕 4@>>:EE66 u63] e[ H@F=5 AC6D6?E |:DD@FC: G@E6CD H:E9 2 32==@E >62DFC6 E@ 6?24E E96 492?86D :7 A2DD65 3J E96 =68:D=2EFC6]k^Am
kAmu:EKH2E6C 92D :?EC@5F465 G6CD:@?D @7 E9:D 3:== 😕 AC6G:@FD J62CD[ 3@E9 😕 E96 w@FD6 2?5 E96 $6?2E6] {2DE J62C[ 96 :?EC@5F465 $y# ad[ H9:49 H@F=5 92G6 C65F465 E96 D:K6 @7 E96 w@FD6 E@ `be >6>36CD 2?5 6IA2?565 E@E2= E6C> =:>:ED E@ `a J62CD :?DE625 @7 E96 4FCC6?E gJ62C >2I:>F> A6C 492>36C]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 9:D E:>6 😕 E96 w@FD6[ u:EKH2E6C :?EC@5F465 EH@ 3:==D E92E H@F=5 92G6 925 E96 D2>6 67764E]k^Am
kAm%9:D DE@CJ =@@
k9bms@H?D:K:?8 E96 w@FD6 @7 #6AC6D6?E2E:G6Dk^9bm
kAmu:EKH2E6C D6CG65 7@FC E6C>D 😕 E96 w@FD6[ E96 >2I:>F> 2==@H65 F?56C =2H] %96 =6256CD9:A DECF4EFC6[ 96 D2:5[ H2D @?6 @7 E96 :?DA:C2E:@?D 7@C 9:D C6D@=FE:@?]k^Am
kAm“x 24EF2==J :?EC@5F465 :E 7:CDE H96? x H2D 😕 E96 w@FD6 3642FD6 x D2H E96 E@A5@H? =6256CD9:A 😕 E96 w@FD6 2D 2 DECF88=6 E@ 36 67764E:G6 2D 2 w@FD6 >6>36C[” u:EKH2E6C D2:5]k^Am
kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ 564C62D:?8 E96 D:K6 @7 E96 w@FD6[ :E H@F=5 2=D@ C6BF:C6 E92E 6249 w@FD6 5:DEC:4E 36 5C2H? H:E9:? 2 D:?8=6 $6?2E6 5:DEC:4E] %96C6 2C6 bc $6?2E6 5:DEC:4ED] u:EKH2E6C 6IA=2:?65 E9:D CF=6 2D 2 H2J E@ 2==@H 7@C 36EE6C 4@>>F?:42E:@? 36EH66? w@FD6 >6>36CD 2?5 E96:C D6?2E@CD]k^Am
kAm“$6?2E@CD H6C6?’E C62==J =:DE6?:?8[ 2D x D2H E96 $6?2E6 2D <:?5 @7 5JD7F?4E:@?2= 2D 2 w@FD6 >6>36C[” u:EKH2E6C D2:5] “%96 :562 H2D J@F 4@?E2:? w@FD6 5:DEC:4ED H:E9:? 2 D:?8=6 $6?2E6 5:DEC:4E[ 2?5 >2J36 J@F 92G6 2 =:EE=6 3:E >@C6 @7 J@FC D6?2E@C’D 62C] |2J36 E96J =:DE6? E@ J@F >@C6 3642FD6 J@F 2C6 C6AC6D6?E:?8 2 A@CE:@? @7 E96:C 5:DEC:4E[ 2 E9:C5 @C 7@FCE9 @7 E96:C 5:DEC:4E]”k^Am
kAm(96? 2D<65 9@H @7E6? u:EKH2E6C >66ED H:E9 E96 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D 😕 9:D 5:DEC:4E[ 9:D @77:46 D2:5 E96J C68F=2C=J >66E 2?5 H@C< 4=@D6=J @? :DDF6D 27764E:?8 E96 5:DEC:4E]k^Am
kAmx7 u:EKH2E6C’D C6D@=FE:@? 😀 A2DD65 3J E96 =68:D=2EFC6 2?5 25@AE65 3J G@E6CD[ E96 w@FD6 H@F=5 36 C65F465 3J e` D62ED] %96 C65F4E:@? 😕 E96 ?F>36C @7 >6>36CD H@F=5 D2G6 E96 DE2E6 @G6C Sh]e >:==:@? 2??F2==J 27E6C E2<:?8 67764E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 C6D@=FE:@?’D 7:D42= ?@E6]k^Am
kAmx7 A2DD65 3J =2H>2<6CD 2?5 2AAC@G65 3J G@E6CD[ E96 AC@A@D2= H@F=5 E2<6 67764E 2E E96 368:??:?8 E96 `_fE9 v6?6C2= pDD6>3=J 😕 a_bb[ H:E9 ?6H >2AD 5C2H? 29625 @7 E96 a_ba =68:D=2E:G6 6=64E:@?D]k^Am
kAmq642FD6 E96 5:DEC:4ED 2C6 5C2H? FD:?8 46?DFD 52E2[ u:EKH2E6C D2:5 :E H@F=5 36 36EE6C E@ H2:E F?E:= 27E6C E96 a_b_ 46?DFD “:?DE625 @7 8@:?8 324< E@ E96 5C2H:?8 3@2C5[ C65C2H:?8 w@FD6 5:DEC:4ED C:89E ?@H H:E9:? $6?2E6 5:DEC:4ED]”k^Am
kAm“%9:D 2=D@ >62?D E92E >@DE @7 E96 A6@A=6 E92E H@F=5 G@E6 @? E9:D H@F=5?’E 36 G@E:?8 E96>D6=G6D @FE @7 @77:46[ H9:49 😀 2?@E96C 762EFC6 @7 5@:?8 :E ?@H[” 96 25565] “xE’D =:<6[ ‘s@ J@F H2?E E@ C:89E D:K6 E96 =68:D=2EFC6 H:E9@FE G@E:?8 J@FCD6=7 @FE @7 @77:46n’ p?5 E92E’D 2? :>A@CE2?E 2C8F>6?E]”k^Am
Sen. Travis Fitzwater, R-Holts Summit, listens to testimony during a Senate committee meeting March 12 at the state Capitol.
kAmw6 ?@E65 E92E E96 C6D@=FE:@? 4@F=5 92G6 2 8C62E6C :>A24E @? CFC2= 5:DEC:4ED 5F6 E@ 9@H >F49 E96J H@F=5 =:<6=J 8C@H 3@E9 86@8C2A9:42==J 2?5 :? A@AF=2E:@?]k^Am
kAm“%96 5@H?D:56 😕 E96 CFC2= 2C62D 😕 A2CE:4F=2C 😀 E92E E9@D6 5:DEC:4ED[ H9:49 2C6 2=C625J C62==J 3:8[ 364@>6 =2C86C] p?5 D@>6 @7 E9@D6 CFC2= 5:DEC:4ED C62==J 5@ =:<6 92G:?8 2 D>2==6C ?F>36C @7 4@?DE:EF6?ED[” u:EKH2E6C D2:5]k^Am
kAm“%9:D H@F=5 255 2?JH96C6 7C@> f[___ E@ `_[___ ?6H 4@?DE:EF6?ED 7@C 6249 w@FD6 5:DEC:4E[ H9:49 😀 AC6EEJ D:8?:7:42?E[ 6DA64:2==J 😕 2 CFC2= 2C62 H96C6 J@F >2J 36 255:?8 >F=E:A=6 4@F?E:6D 2D 2 C6DF=E]”k^Am
kAmx7 E96 >62DFC6 8@6D :?E@ 67764E[ E96 AC@46DD @7 5C2H:?8 E96 >2AD H@F=5 72== E@ E96 |:DD@FC: w@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6 x?56A6?56?E q:A2CE:D2? r:E:K6?D r@>>:DD:@?D[ H9:49 2C6 2DD:DE65 3J E96 DE2E6 56>@8C2A96C 2?5 E96 ~77:46 @7 p5>:?:DEC2E:@?]k^Am
kAmr9C:D |@C6=2?5[ E96 DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C E96 ~77:46 @7 p5>:?:DEC2E:@?[ D2:5 E96 @77:46 😀 7@==@H:?8 E96 C6D@=FE:@? 3FE 4@F=5 ?@E 4@>>6?E @? A6?5:?8 =68:D=2E:@?]k^Am
kAm!6G6C:== $BF:C6[ 2 A@=:E:42= D4:6?46 AC@76DD@C 2E |&[ D2:5 CFC2= 5:DEC:4ED >2J 364@>6 =6DD CFC2= 27E6C C62==@42E:@? 2?5 C65C2H:?8 E96 >2A]k^Am
kAm“%96J H@F=5 AC@323=J DEC6E49 2 =:EE=6 3:E >@C6 :?E@ D@>6 @7 E96 DF3FC32? 2C62D[ A2CE:4F=2C=J @FED:56 $E] {@F:D[ z2?D2D r:EJ 2?5 6G6? $AC:?87:6=5] $@ :E >:89E =6DD6? CFC2= G@:46D 2 =:EE=6 3:E[” $BF:C6 D2:5] “%96 C62=:EJ 😀 :E H@F=5 AC@323=J DE:== 36 2? @G6CH96=>:?8=J #6AF3=:42? =68:D=2EFC6]”k^Am
kAmw6 ?@E65[ 9@H6G6C[ E92E D@>6 5:DEC:4ED 4@F=5 364@>6 >@C6 4@>A6E:E:G6]k^Am
kAm“x7 :E H6C6 E@ 8@ 5@H? E@ `_a D62ED[ E96 :>A24E H@F=5 36 J@F’5 AC@323=J 92G6 >@C6 C246D E92E H6C6 4@?E6DE65 2?5 76H6C F?4@?E6DE65 C246D 3642FD6 E96J’5 36 2 =:EE=6 3:E =2C86C A@AF=2E:@?D[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“$@ J@F’5 92G6 >@C6 A@E6?E:2= 42?5:52E6D 2?5 AC@323=J D@>6H92E >@C6 4@>A6E:E:G6 4@?E6DED E@@ 3642FD6 J@F H@F=5 92G6 76H6C 5:DEC:4ED E92E H6C6 @G6CH96=>:?8=J @?6 A2CEJ]”k^Am
kAm$BF:C6 25565 E92E >@C6 4@>A6E:E:G6 C246D 4@F=5 2=D@ D6CG6 E@ “AF== >@C6 A6@A=6 E@H2C5 E96 >:55=6 C2E96C E92? E96 A@=:E:42= 6IEC6>6]”k^Am
kAms2?:6= !@?56C[ 2 A@=:E:42= D4:6?46 AC@76DD@C 2E sCFCJ &?:G6CD:EJ[ D2:5 E92E 36EE6C C6AC6D6?E2E:@? 😀 2 36?67:E @7 E96 4FCC6?E `eb>6>36C w@FD6]k^Am
kAm“~?6 @7 E96 ?:46 E9:?8D 23@FE 92G:?8 2 w@FD6 @7 `eb A6@A=6 😀 E92E J@F 92G6 D>2==6C 5:DEC:4ED[ @7E6? 86@8C2A9:42==J 2?5 46CE2:?=J 😕 E6C>D @7 A@AF=2E:@?[” !@?56C D2:5] “p?5 D@ E96 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 7F?4E:@?[ >62?:?8 J@F
kAm“x 46CE2:?=J D66 E96 2AA62= E92E E96J 4@F=5 2E =62DE E2=< 23@FE[ H9:49 :D E92E :E H@F=5 D2G6 >:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD[” 96 25565] “~? E96 @E96C 92?5[ x E9:?< E96 BF2=:EJ @7 C6AC6D6?E2E:@? H@F=5 5:>:?:D9]”k^Am
k9bmr92?86D E@ E6C> =:>:EDk^9bm
kAm%96 492?86D E@ E6C> =:>:ED F?56C E9:D 3:== H@F=5 2==@H =2H>2<6CD E@ D6CG6 2 E@E2= @7 `e J62CD :? E96 =68:D=2EFC6] %9:D 4@F=5 E2<6 E96 7@C> @7 `e J62CD 😕 E96 w@FD6[ `e J62CD 😕 E96 $6?2E6[ @C DA=:EE:?8 E92E E:>6 36EH66? E96 EH@]k^Am
kAmrFCC6?E E6C> =:>:ED @?=J 2==@H 7@C D@>6@?6 E@ D6CG6 FA E@ 6:89E J62CD 😕 E96 w@FD6 2?5 FA E@ 6:89E J62CD 😕 E96 $6?2E6] ~7 E96 DE2E6D E92E 92G6 E96D6 C6DEC:4E:@?D[ E9:D 😀 E96 >@DE 4@>>@? =:>:E]k^Am
kAmt:89E @E96C DE2E6D 92G6 E6C> =:>:ED E92E >2E49 |:DD@FC:’D @7 6:89E J62CD 😕 E96 w@FD6 2?5 6:89E 😕 E96 $6?2E6] u@FC DE2E6D — pC<2?D2D[ r2=:7@C?:2[ |:49:82?[ 2?5 ~<=29@>2 — 92G6 2 `a J62C E@E2= E6C> =:>:E[ 2?5 😕 EH@ DE2E6D — {@F:D:2?2 2?5 }6G252 — =2H>2<6CD 42? D6CG6 FA E@ `a J62CD :? 3@E9 492>36CD]k^Am
kAm}63C2D<2[ H9:49 92D 2 F?:42>6C2= =68:D=2EFC6[ 92D 6:89EJ62C E6C> =:>:ED] w@H6G6C[ ?@ DE2E6 92D E96 `eJ62C E@E2= =:>:E 6?G:D:@?65 😕 u:EKH2E6C’D C6D@=FE:@?]k^Am
kAm%6C> =:>:ED H6C6 7:CDE 6DE23=:D965 7@C E96 |:DD@FC: =68:D=2EFC6 😕 `hha 27E6C fdT @7 G@E6CD 2AAC@G65 2 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 2>6?5>6?E]k^Am
kAmx? a__a[ E96 AC@G:D:@? H2D 2>6?565 E@ 2==@H =2H>2<6CD H9@ D6CG65 =6DD E92? 92=7 @7 2 7F== E6C> 27E6C 7:==:?8 2 G242?E D62E E@ 36 6=:8:3=6 E@ D6CG6 2?@E96C 6:89E J62CD 😕 E96 w@FD6 @C $6?2E6[ C6DA64E:G6=J] %9:D 😀 D:>:=2C E@ 9@H !C6D:56?E {J?5@? q] y@9?D@? H2D 23=6 E@ CF? 😕 `heg[ 56DA:E6 36:?8 AC6D:56?E 7@C 2=>@DE D:I J62CD FA E@ E92E A@:?E] x? E96 6?5[ 96 564=:?65 E@ D66< C66=64E:@?]k^Am
kAm#6A] s2G:5 %JD@? $>:E9[ sr@=F>3:2[ D2:5 96 =:<6D E96 AC@A@D65 492?86 @7 E6C> =:>:ED E@ `e J62CD E@E2=]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< :E’5 36 962=E9J 3642FD6 x E9:?< E96C6’D D@ >F49 :?7@C>2E:@?[” $>:E9 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“~?6 @7 E96 AC@3=6>D H:E9 E6C> =:>:ED 😀 E92E E96 =@33J:DED 92G6 :?DE:EFE:@?2= 6 E@ J@F 2?5 D2J[ ‘(6’G6 366? 😕 E96 3F:=5:?8 ad J62CD] %9:D 😀 9@H :E’D C62==J 5@?6] %9:D 😀 H92E’D 92AA6?65 H:E9 E96 3:==]’”k^Am
kAm“%96J 42? E6== J@F E96 9:DE@CJ @7 2 3:==[ 2?5 :E >2J ?@E 36 244FC2E6[” 96 25565] “$@ J@F’C6 ;FDE <:?5 @7 C6=J:?8 @? E96>[ 2?5 E96J’G6 8@E E96 FAA6C 92?5] %96J’G6 8@E =6G6C286 @? J@F]”k^Am
kAm$BF:C6 6IAC6DD65 2 D:>:=2C D6?E:>6?E 😕 DFAA@CE @7 2 =68:D=2E@C D6CG:?8 =@?86C 😕 @?6 492>36C]k^Am
kAm“x7 J@F 92G6 A6@A=6 H9@ 92G6 6IA6C:6?46 2?5 A6@A=6 H9@ 92G6 DA6?E E:>6 =62C?:?8 E96 :DDF6D 2?5 H@C<:?8 @? E96>[ E92E 96=AD :?7@C> 564:D:@?>2<:?8] p?5 D@ :E’D 2 ?6E 36?67:E[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm~?6 E9:?8 E96 AC@A@D2= H@F=5 ?@E 492?86 😀 E96 =:76E:>6 32? @? E6C>=:>:E65 =2H>2<6CD]k^Am
kAm|:DD@FC: 2?5 7:G6 @E96C DE2E6D AC@9:3:E DE2E6 =2H>2<6CD H9@ 92G6 C624965 E96:C E6C> =:>:ED 7C@> D6CG:?8 😕 E96 =68:D=2EFC6 282:?] $6G6C2= @E96C DE2E6D H:E9 E6C> =:>:ED 92G6 E6>A@C2CJ 32?D[ FDF2==J 7@FC J62CD[ 367@C6 =68:D=2E@CD 42? D6CG6 282:?]k^Am
kAm%96 C6D@=FE:@? 92D J6E E@ 36 G@E65 @FE @7 4@>>:EE66[ 2?5 E96C6 😀 2 =@?8 A2E9 E@ :>A=6>6?E2E:@?] %96 AC@A@D2= H@F=5 C6BF:C6 2AAC@G2= 3J E96 $6?2E6 2?5 E96 w@FD6 367@C6 7:?2==J 36:?8 A=2465 @? E96 32==@E 7@C G@E6CD E@ 92G6 E96 7:?2= D2J]k^Am
kAm“x 5@?’E E9:?< E96C6’D 2?J 8F2C2?E66 E92E :E H@F=5 H:?[” $BF:C6 D2:5] “qFE x E9:?< :7 E96C6 H2D 2 DEC@?8 6?@F89 42>A2:8? 369:?5 :E[ J@F AC@323=J 4@F=5 A6CDF256 A6@A=6]”k^Am
kAmu:EKH2E6C 242J 72:= E@ H:? @G6C D@>6[ A2CE:4F=2C=J @? E96 BF6DE:@? @7 5@H?D:K:?8 E96 w@FD6]k^Am
kAm“qFE C:89E ?@H[” 96 D2:5[ “x E9:?< :E’D ;FDE H@CE9 92G:?8 2 4@?G6CD2E:@?]”k^Am