93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
A proposed constitutional amendment from a mid-Missouri state lawmaker would reduce the Missouri House’s size from 163 to 102 and would modify term limits for state lawmakers.
State Sen. Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit) is proposing Senate Joint Resolution 70, which would also require that all Missouri House districts be contained within a single Senate district. Senator Fitzwater joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri,” noting he originally filed the same proposal as a House member because he was frustrated by the way the Senate was functioning.
“House members didn’t have the influence over an individual (state) senator like I thought maybe they should. And so my idea was one is to reduce it down to the size … we have a very large (state) Legislature. And to reduce the size down to maybe like a Tennessee or the states … we’re much larger than any state that we’re surrounded by,” Senator Fitzwater says.
As for term limits, Missouri’s current term limits allow lawmakers to serve up to eight years in both chambers for a total of 16 years in Jefferson City. Senator Fitzwater’s proposed constitutional amendment would allow lawmakers to serve up to 16 years in the Legislature, regardless of which chamber. If lawmakers approve Senator Fitzwater’s measure, the issue would be placed on the statewide ballot this August or November.
He represents a number of counties in Jefferson City, including Callaway, Montgomery and St. Charles.
