Sen. Crowell calls for open redistricting meetings

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A Missouri senator says the committee in charge of redrawing the state's legislative districts should open its meetings and records to the public.

Republican Jason Crowell, of Cape Girardeau, testified before a Senate panel Monday for a proposed amendment to the Missouri Constitution subjecting state apportionment commissions to the state's open meeting laws.

New districts for the House were developed by a panel of appeals court judges last year after a bipartisan commission deadlocked. The House map is being challenged by a group claiming the districts aren't sufficiently compact and have unequal populations. The group also alleges a violation of the open meeting law.

If approved by the full Senate and House, Crowell's proposed amendment would go on a statewide ballot.

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Open meetings bill is SJR37

Online:

http://senate.mo.gov