Overnight filibuster in Missouri Senate, some read books to block governor’s appointments

Emily Manley
·2 min read
16

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A group of senators spent the night reading books during a session that began early Tuesday evening, staging an overnight filibuster that further pushed back the approval of gubernatorial appointments.

Missouri Senators gaveled in for the session around 6 p.m. Monday and the filibuster has stretched at least 15 hours into early Tuesday morning.

Overnight, a handful of senators, including several members of the Freedom Caucus, stood up on the floor and read books.

In recent weeks, the group has been linked to filibusters and heated arguments. Members of the Freedom Caucus say they’re tired of waiting to debate legislation that changes GOP priorities, like the initiative petition process and education reform.

The gridlock in the Senate is holding up the approval of dozens of the governor’s appointments to various boards and commissions, including the director of the Department of Health and Senior Services and the Department of Social Services.

The Missouri Senate’s top leader stripped four state senators of committee assignments last week, all of whom had ties to the Freedom Caucus. The senators also had their parking spots removed from the Capitol’s basement garage.

Tuesday at the Capitol

With the Senate still in session, all committee hearings have been canceled except for a local government and elections committee hearing, where members are expected to vote out the initiative petition legislation. That is set to start at 9:50 a.m.

Before the House gavels in at 10 a.m. Tuesday, there is a voter protection rally. This group wants to stop lawmakers from changing the initiative petition process.

About an hour later, there is a Freedom Caucus rally here in the Capitol. This is expected to be a large rally in favor of the new caucus in the Senate and the House.

Later on, Representatives will be debating their first bill on the floor this year: open enrollment. This would allow students to enroll in a school district outside of the one they live in.

Because of the filibuster, a planned meeting that St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones had with lawmakers to advocate for the administration’s priorities has been postponed. Her office is working to reschedule a visit to Jefferson City.

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