Members of Missouri House Protest Defeat of Farm Loan Bill
- Share via
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Members of the Missouri House walked into the Senate Wednesday, taking over the chamber to protest defeat of a farm loan bill in a Senate committee.
House Speaker Bob Griffin recessed the House to lead the 45-minute demonstration, showing support of representatives for the farm aid measure. The Senate was not in session when representatives walked onto the floor.
The bill, which would have provided $200 million in state deposits for banks to use in making low-interest loans to farmers and small businesses, died Tuesday on a tie vote in the Senate Miscellaneous Bills Committee.
House Speaker Pro Tem Patrick Hickey stood on the Senate floor, raised a clenched fist and shouted: “Everybody pick a senator.”
When Sen. Danny Staples appeared at the railing of an upper gallery and looked down onto the Senate floor, House members chanted: “Jump, jump, jump.”
About half of the 163 House members took part in the occupation. Many sat at the desks of the 34 senators. Others milled around on the floor.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
