JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri lawmakers are on track to pass new congressional maps next week.

Two different committees heard testimony on the two main components to Republican Governor Mike Kehoe’s call for an extraordinary session.

An elections committee began deliberations on initiative petition reform Thursday as another committee–a special committee on redistricting–held a hearing in an adjacent room on changes to Missouri’s congressional districts.

Heated at times, Democrat members of the committee blasted Republican State Rep. Dirk Deaton, the sponsor of the map change legislation.

More testimony followed as dozens of residents lined up against the change to Missouri’s 5th congressional district, a seat currently held by Democrat Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. The proposed change

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