Missouri Legislature OKs plan for congressional redistricting

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri's Republican-led legislature has given final approval to a new plan redrawing the state's congressional districts based on the 2010 census.

The votes Wednesday night by the state House and Senate send the redistricting bill to Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon.

House Democrats immediately urged the governor to veto the plan, which they said was drawn with the goal of creating safe Republican seats.

Missouri must consolidate its nine U.S. House districts into eight for the 2012 elections because the state's population failed to keep pace with that of the nation during the past decade.

The redistricting plan also accounts for population changes within the state, such as an exodus of people from St. Louis to its suburbs. It represents a compromise from previous House and Senate versions.