MO House panel OKs bill curbing governor's power to fill statewide vacancies

Legislation significantly altering the way statewide vacancies would be filled appears to be on the fast track in the Missouri House.

The House Elections Committee on Tuesday approved House Speaker Pro Tem Jason Smith’s legislation that would curb the governor's power to fill any vacancies that occur in other statewide offices.

The bill would allow the governor to appoint temporary officeholders for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state auditor state treasurer and United States Senator.

But Smith’s bill would require the governor to call a special election to permanently fill a statewide vacancy. To save money, the election would be at the same time as a scheduled general election.

https://www.stlbeacon.org/#!/content/28892/smith_statewide_vacancies_011513?coverpage=2539

For those outside of Missouri, The GOP is afraid of losing the Lt. Gov's slot when Kinder runs to replace Congressional Representative Emerson who announced her retirement just after being re-elected in 2012.