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Missouri Government News for Week of November 6

This week's news summary was prepared by Candyce L. Clifft from reports prepared during the week by staff of Missouri Digital News.

Jefferson City Rejects Riverboat Gambling

Residents of Jefferson City voted Nov. 7 against having riverboat gambling in the city. They also approved a proposition to prevent the issue from ever coming up again.

In November 1992, Jefferson City voters approved riverboat gambling. However, some citizens took the issue to court, claiming the ballot was not clear. The court ordered a re-vote. This time voters said no to a floating casino.

Citizens Against Riverboat Gambling led the fight against gambling in Jefferson City.

[155K WAV file - Co-organizer Jack West said the group's fight was based on the negative impact gambling has had on other cities.]

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House Speaker to Step Down
Despite Being Cleared of Criminal Charges

House Speaker Bob Griffin said he will still step down despite being cleared of criminal charges by three of the state's major prosecutors. Griffin said he doesn't think his reputation has been damaged by the investigation.

Griffin said he has never had a second thought about leaving a post he's held for 15 years.

[56K WAV file - Griffin says he's leaving the legislature to go to work. He says he can't afford to stay.]

Clearance of state charges does not end this matter for Griffin. He is still under federal investigation.

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House Democrats Select Speaker Nominee

Missouri Democrats chose a farmer as their candidate for Speaker of the House in a closed-door caucus on Nov. 9. Representative Sam Leake, a conservative Democrat who supports abortion restrictions, won the nomination. Leake, of Laddonia, is chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.

Leake is no shoo-in for the position. The Democrats have an overall majority in Missouri's House, but only 80 of the 87 House Democrats participated in the caucus. The seven absentees hold the key to the election of a new Speaker.

When the legislative session begins in January, the entire House will elect the new Speaker. For Leake to win the position, the Democrats need two of the no-shows to vote for Leake. Five of them voluntarily boycotted the caucus. In exchange for their votes, they are demanding changes in the way the House does business.

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