The Missouri Senate’s first day of a redistricting and initiative petition special session got off to a rocky start on Wednesday after Republicans employed a rarely utilized maneuver to approve the rules.

Wednesday marked the first day senators gaveled into session since Gov. Mike Kehoe called lawmakers back to Jefferson City last week. They’ll soon take up a redistricting plan that converts Congressman Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City-based district into a GOP-leaning seat and a proposal requiring some constitutional amendments to pass with a statewide vote and in all eight congressional districts. The House passed both Tuesday.

While both of those measures are expected to pass the Senate by Friday, Senate Democrats do have the power to slow down proceedings with a filibuster. Sena

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