House Joint Resolution 49 failed in the House today


Only One Democrat voted for the Resolution attacking the Court Plan
After about an hour of debate the House Resolution that would have submitted to a statewide vote major changes to the Missouri Non-partisan Court Plan was put to what will probably be the final vote this year. It failed by a vote of 69-83


After garnering 80 Yes votes on first round approval the Resolution lost ground rapidly. Lawyers from around the state rang phones and filled email inboxes this week in Jeff City. The 63 No votes on Tuesday grew to 83 today.

Republican leaders seemed resigned early this morning to the measure failing. The debate was less direct today that earlier in the week. It seemed as if the proponents were just going through the motions and knew that they were losing.

In the end sixty-eight Republicans and one Democrat voted in favor of the resolution. The official House Journal will be posted online in the morning (probably) here is the link to the page where the history is posted.

Three lawyers supported the resolution. Stanley Cox (R-Sedalia) the sponsor of the Resolution, Bryan Stevenson (R-Joplin) Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Bob Onder (R-Lake St. Louis) a candidate for the Congress.

I am so happy about this it is hard to express. I have served in the House for six years now and believe that this is the most significant vote where I have been on the prevailing side. So often from the minority side of the aisle where I serve we have to be content with modifying, amending, and negotiating less objectionable outcomes. It is exhilarating to have an outright win. Makes it all worthwhile. Maybe this is a sign of things to come?

State Rep John P Burnett