Missouri Democrats lash out at proposed congressional maps

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A Special Committee on redistricting heard from state lawmakers Thursday on what they thought of the state legislature changing the congressional districts.

Emotions were high on the second day of the Special Session.

The proposed "Missouri First" congressional map, consisting of all eight districts in the state, would give Republicans a shot at adding a congressional district, making it easier for the state's delegation to be seven in Washington, DC, as opposed to the current six.

Specifically, the Missouri 5th Congressional District, represented by Democrat Emanuel Cleaver, is being targeted by the Republican led state legislature.

"If we continue down this road representative of dividing communities for partisan gain only, other states will follow, and do you think that's right? Do you?" Democratic State House Rep. Mark Sharp of Kansas City said Thursday to Republican State House Rep. Dirk Deaton of Southwest Missouri.

Deaton is the sponsor of the bill with the "Missouri First" congressional map in it. He responded that Sharp was entitled to his opinion, but his, as expected, was different.

"It's fundamentally a political question, and you know, we're political actors," Deaton said.

"You're elected from one political party. I'm from another [and a] different part of the state."

Deaton also claims this potential new map splits up less communities than the current one. The new map splits up the far western portion of Jackson County, putting it in Missouri's 4th Congressional District, currently represented by Republican Mark Alford.

Democratic Minority Leader Ashley Aune, a Kansas City and Platte County resident, sparred on the redistricting issue with Deaton, too.

"Do you think it makes sense that Sam Graves represents Kansas City and Hannibal, Missouri, gentleman?" Aune asked.

 "I mean, sure. North Missouri is very rural," Deaton replied.

"Well, my district is not very rural gentleman, and I'm still in that district," Aune followed up by saying.

 "You have to do it to meet the constitutional requirements," Deaton replied.

Deaton then said the constitutional requirement of the redistricting process is to have all eight congressional districts have an equal population.

As of late in the afternoon, the redistricting hearing that started at noon had not yet finished. The full Missouri State House of Representatives is expected to vote on the "Missouri First" congressional map Tuesday.