Few other elected officials<\/a>, prompted the legislature to reformulate Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver’s seat in Kansas City to increase the likelihood of a Republican takeover. <\/span><\/p>\nSusan Klein, executive director of Missouri Right to Life, joined the ranks of those pushing for the 7-1 GOP map during a public hearing Monday noon. <\/span><\/p>\n\u201cPro-life Missourians, as well as Republicans across the state, are calling for a 7-1 map to Congress,\u201d Klein said, suggesting that Republicans are adding large swathes of rural Missouri to Cleaver County. <\/span><\/p>\nThe entry of the state’s largest anti-abortion organization into the redistricting debate is just the latest development in what is fast becoming the most contentious controversy of the 2022 legislative session. <\/span><\/p>\nLawmakers usually draw maps to Congress a year in advance of implementing them. But delays in US census numbers due to COVID-19 pushed the process backward. <\/span><\/p>\nFurther complicating any effort to rework the map significantly, Governor Mike Parson refused to convene a special session in the fall to focus on redistricting. <\/span><\/p>\nThe governor also recently appointed two Missouri House members to jobs in his administration, cutting the Republican Party’s majority to less than the two-thirds needed to approve the emergency clause. <\/span><\/p>\nAn emergency provision for maps will be needed to be drawn up before the August primary. Without an overwhelming majority, Republicans will need the help of Democrats to pass this emergency provision. <\/span><\/p>\nRepublican lawmakers in favor of the 6-2 map made the point repeatedly on Monday, expressing concern that by following the 7-1 map they might end up handing the redistricting process to the courts. <\/span><\/p>\n“I’m with you in my desire for a 7-1 map,” Representative Travis Fitzwater, of the R-Holts Summit, told Cline on Monday. “But if we don’t get the emergency clause, how is it done?” <\/span><\/p>\nKlein argued that Parsons should immediately call a special session to run in conjunction with the regular session, something he could do to get around the emergency clause issue.<\/span><\/p>\n“We have a Republican governor,” Klein said. “We must fight for Republican representation.”<\/span><\/p>\nKelly Jones, a spokeswoman for the governor’s office, did not respond to a request for comment.<\/span><\/p>\nOn Monday, Fitzwater said he had not heard any indication that the governor was considering calling a special session. Rep. Dan Shaul, R-Imperial and chair of the House Redistricting Committee, said the ship may have already sailed on the idea. <\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThe schedule for the special session has come and gone pretty well,\u201d Shaul said. <\/span><\/p>\nThere was also concern expressed Monday that the 7-1 map would run into trouble in the Missouri Senate, where Republican and conservative leaders have been at odds for the past year. In addition, Democrats are likely to stall. <\/span><\/p>\n“The 7-1 map will not be representative of Missouri,” said Representative Jerome Barnes, D-Righttown. “When we draw these maps, it has to be fair.”<\/span><\/p>\nWith the legislative process officially underway \u2014 Shaul said the redistricting committee will vote on a map on Wednesday \u2014 both sides are working to sway lawmakers.<\/span><\/p>\nThat includes Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, who went public for a 7-1 map late last year and has been lobbying lawmakers aggressively on the idea since the 2022 tournament began last week. <\/span><\/p>\n“Although the secretary cannot introduce or vote on legislation, he is always interested in promoting ideas that best represent Missouri,” Ashcroft spokesman Gudon Chaney said. <\/span><\/p>\nShaul said the map presented on Monday, which includes a 6-2 breakdown, is “just a starting point.” <\/span><\/p>\nWhile pressure to enact a 7-1 map has increased in recent weeks, some in the legislative leadership have been insisting that pursuing that choice would be a mistake.<\/span><\/p>\nSenate Majority Leader Caleb Rudin of Columbia warned during an interview with St. Louis Public Radio last week that efforts to enact a map of the Republican Party could backfire. <\/span><\/p>\n“Anyone pushing the 7-1 map has to be very understanding, and 7-1 can turn into 5-3, you know, fairly quickly,” he said.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n