COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s Republican-led Legislature kicked off the 2022 annual session Wednesday amid a coronavirus surge and during an election year.
Seating in House hearing rooms and the chamber is limited to curb the spread of COVID-19. Most hearings in the House and Senate are being livestreamed, with live audio or video when the chambers are in session. Masks are not required in the Capitol.
Most of the 163-member House is up for reelection this year, and numerous lawmakers are running for U.S. Congress, or the state or U.S. Senate. Upcoming elections tend to drive lawmakers to push more extreme and attention-grabbing policies that could help them win a primary or general election.
House Republicans started the year missing four members who had either resigned or were poached by Republican Gov. Mike Parson for his administration. Another two have said they will resign Wednesday, which would put House Republicans just below the 109-member threshold needed to override gubernatorial vetoes without help from Democrats.
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