JEFFERSON CITY, MO. – Both the Missouri House and Senate Bipartisan Citizens Commissions met for the first time Tuesday at 10:00am. The House Commission was in session until 6:30pm Tuesday evening with Democrats standing strong and fighting for fairness, transparency and democracy.

Executive Director Randy Dunn was in the hearing rooms and released the following statement regarding Tuesday’s events:

“I am proud of our Democratic Commissioners who fought to ensure that we provided ample opportunity for public input via six public hearings while the Republicans wanted to do the bare minimum by having only three. Missouri citizens deserve the opportunity to voice their opinion and to be heard in this once a decade process. 

I sat in those committee rooms all day and night and it became abundantly clear that as Democrats, we were focused on a process that will result in fair maps through a transparent and open process, Republicans were only focused on trying to rig the game in their favor to grab and retain power.

This is supposed to be a bipartisan process – and by numbers, it is. A total of 20 members from both parties serving on these Commissions. Democrats look forward to hearing feedback from Missouri residents and experts to help inform their decisions on developing maps that will be based on data and not to serve the ambitions of politicians and the desire of a political party to stay in power.

 While some of yesterday’s moves were just another example of power-hungry Republicans trying to divide our state, we have to band together to ensure our communities thrive for the next decade and generations to follow.”

The Commissions will meet on October 18th, 19th, 21st and November 4th, 9th and 10th. Times are yet to be determined.