Missouri State Senate

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Missouri State Senate


General Information
Type:   Upper house
Term limits:   2 terms (8 years)
2012 session start:   January 5, 2011
Website:   Official Senate Page
Leadership
Senate President:   Peter Kinder, (R)
Majority Leader:   Tom Dempsey, (R)
Minority leader:   Victor Callahan, (D)
Structure
Members:  34
   Democratic Party (8)
Republican Party (26)
Length of term:   4 years
Authority:   Art IV, Missouri Constitution
Salary:   $35,915/year + per diem
Elections
Last Election:  November 2, 2010 (17 seats)
Next election:  November 6, 2012 (17 seats)
Redistricting:  Missouri Legislature Commissions have control
Meeting place:

Contents

The Missouri State Senate is the upper house of the Missouri General Assembly. It consists of 34 members. Each member represents an average of 176,145 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[1] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 164,565 residents.[2]

The senators serve four-year terms, with a limit of two terms.

Half of the senate is up for re-election every two years.

Sessions

Article III of the Missouri Constitution establishes when the Missouri General Assembly, of which the Senate is a part is to meet. Section 20 of Article III states that the General Assembly shall convene its regular session on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January of each year. Section 20 requires the General Assembly to adjourn its regular session by May 30th.

Section 20 of Article III also allows for a special session of the General Assembly to be convened by a joint proclamation of three-fourths of the members of both houses.

2012

See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions

In 2012, the Senate will be in session from January 4 through May 30.

Major issues

The budget is expected to be the main focus of the session as the state faces a $500 million spending gap. The agenda also includes economic development, Workers Compensation reforms, and overhauling public school funding.[3]

2011

In 2011, the Senate was in regular session from January 5 through May 30. [4] Governor Jay Nixon called for a special legislative session for September 6, however, the session was called off when Republicans hesitated on a push to overhaul state tax credits and authorize several new incentive programs, including one for a China freight hub in St. Louis. Assembly members were sent home so that they might read the revised 219-page measure over the weekend. According to Senate President Pro Tem Robert Mayer, the "important" bill "needs the attention of every member of this body."[5]

2010

In 2010, the Senate was in session from January 6th to May 14th. [6][7]

Elections

2012

See also: Missouri State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Missouri State Senate will be held in Missouri on November 6, 2012. A total of 17 seats will be up for election.

The signature filing deadline is March 27, 2012 and the primary date is August 14, 2012.

Missouri state senators are subject to term limits and may not serve more than two four-year terms. In 2012, 9 state senators will be termed-out.

2010

See also: Missouri State Senate elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Missouri State Senate were held in Missouri on November 2, 2010. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 30, 2010 and the primary election day was on August 3, 2010.

In 2010, the candidates for state senate raised a total of $12,861,549 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [8]

Donor Amount
Majority Fund Inc $707,500
Missouri Democratic Party $581,925
Missouri Republican Party $385,311
Citizens for Brad Lager $347,000
Humphreys, David Craig $277,500
Lamping, John T $180,003
Engler for Missouri $171,383
Herzog, Stanley M $160,500
Missouri Health & Hospital Association $153,650
Missouri Club for Growth $144,000

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the Missouri State Senate, a candidate must be:[9]

  • At least 30 years of age
  • Qualified Missouri voter for three years before election
  • Resident of the district which he is chosen to represent for 1 year before election
  • Is not delinquent in the payment of any state income taxes, personal property taxes, real property taxes on the place of residence as stated in the declaration of candidacy
  • is not a past or present corporate officer of any fee office that owes any taxes to the state.
  • Has not been found guilty of or pled guilty to a felony or misdemeanor under the federal laws of the United States of America.
  • Has not been convicted of or found guilty of or pled guilty to a felony under the laws of Missouri.
  • In addition to any other penalties provided by law, no person may file for any office in a subsequent election until he or the treasurer of his existing candidate committee has filed all required campaign disclosure reports for all prior elections.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures
How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures
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If a vacancy occurs in the Senate, the Governor must call for a special election without delay. There is no time limit specified under law[10]. The mandate for a special election is sent to the election authority in the county that first established the legislative district[11].

Term limits

See also: State legislatures with term limits

The Missouri legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Missouri Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative said that Missouri senators are subject to term limits of no more than two four-year terms, or a total of eight years.

The first year that the term limits enacted in 1992 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2002.[12]

Senators

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

As of 2011, members of the Missouri House of Representatives are paid $35,915/year. Per diem is $98.40/day tied to the federal rate. Roll call is used to verify per diem.[13]

The $35,915/year that Missouri representatives are paid as of 2011 is an increase over the $31,351 they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. Per diem has increased from $79.20/day in 2007 to $103.20/day in 2010 and decreased to $98.40/day in 2011.[14][15]

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Missouri legislators assume office the first day of the legislative session.

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Party As of February 2012
     Democratic Party 8
     Republican Party 26
Total 34


Leadership

The Lieutenant Governor serves as President of the Senate.[16]

Current leadership

Position Representative Party
State Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Mayer Republican
State Senate Majority Floor Leader Tom Dempsey Republican
State Senate Assistant Majority Floor Leader Jack Goodman Republican
State Senate Majority Caucus Leader Bill Stouffer Republican
State Senate Majority Whip Mike Parson Republican
State Senate Minority Floor Leader Victor Callahan Democratic
State Senate Assistant Minority Floor Leader Jolie Justus Democratic
State Senate Minority Caucus Leader Timothy Green Democratic

2010 Leadership

Position Representative Party
President of the Senate Peter Kinder Republican
State Senate President Pro Tempore Charlie Shields Republican
State Senate Majority Floor Leader Kevin Engler Republican
State Senate Assistant Majority Floor Leader Jack Goodman Republican
State Senate Majority Caucus Leader Bill Stouffer Republican
State Senate Majority Whip Tom Dempsey Republican
State Senate Minority Floor Leader Victor Callahan Democratic
State Senate Assistant Minority Floor Leader Rita Heard Days Democratic
State Senate Minority Caucus Leader Frank Barnitz Democratic

List of current members

District Representative Party Residence
1Jim Lembke RepublicanSt. Louis
2Scott Rupp RepublicanWentzville
3Kevin Engler RepublicanFarmington
4Joseph Keaveny DemocraticSt. Louis
5Robin Wright-Jones DemocraticSt. Louis
6Mike Kehoe Republican
7Jane Cunningham RepublicanChesterfield
8Will Kraus Republican
9Shalonn Curls Democratic
10Jolie Justus DemocraticKansas City
11Victor Callahan DemocraticIndependence
12Brad Lager RepublicanMaryville
13Timothy Green DemocraticSt. Louis
14Maria Chappelle-Nadal Democratic
15Eric Schmitt RepublicanGlendale
16Dan Brown Republican
17Luann Ridgeway RepublicanSmithville
18Brian Munzlinger Republican
19Kurt Schaefer Republican
20Jay Wasson Republican
21Bill Stouffer RepublicanNapton
22Ryan McKenna DemocraticCrystal City
23Tom Dempsey RepublicanSt. Charles
24John Lamping Republican
25Robert Mayer RepublicanDexter
26Brian Nieves Republican
27Jason Crowell RepublicanCape Girardeau
28Mike Parson Republican
29Jack Goodman RepublicanMt. Vernon
30Bob Dixon Republican
31David Pearce Republican
32Ronald Richard Republican
33Chuck Purgason RepublicanCaulfield
34Rob Schaaf Republican

Senate Committees

The Missouri Senate has 18 standing committees:

External links

References

  1. ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
  2. ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
  3. ↑ St. Louis Beacon, "Missouri legislature opens, with last session's issues at top of agenda," January 4, 2012
  4. ↑ 2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar, NCSL
  5. ↑ STLtoday.com, Missouri Senate puts hold on economic development bill, Sept. 9, 2011
  6. ↑ 2010 session dates for Missouri House
  7. ↑ 2010 session dates for Missouri Senate
  8. ↑ Follow the Money: "Missouri Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions"
  9. ↑ 2010 Elected Officials Qualifications
  10. ↑ Missouri General Assembly "Missouri Revised Statutes"(Referenced Statute 21.110)
  11. ↑ Missouri General Assembly "Missouri Revised Statutes"(Referenced Statute 21.120)
  12. ↑ State legislative term limits
  13. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislator Compensation Data"
  14. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislator Compensation Data"
  15. ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
  16. ↑ Missouri State Senate Leadership
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