Republican U.S. representatives meet behind closed doors to discuss redistricting

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4/13/2011: Radio Story - The Senate's newly approved congressional map will head to the House for approval.

4/14/2011: Radio Story - Missouri Senate Republicans have delayed a vote on congressional redistricting, frustrating Republican leaders in the House.

4/14/2011: Radio Story - Missouri's House and Senate fail to reach an agreement on a congressional redistricting map.

4/13/2011: Newspaper Story - The Senate passed a redistricting proposal Wednesday after continued debate among Republicans.

Intro:	Republican U.S. representatives met with state senators and representatives behind closed doors Monday to discuss Missouri's new congressional map.
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OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Congressmen Blaine Luetkemeyer and Todd Akin were seen after they met at the Republican headquarters in Jefferson City.

Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson also attended the meeting.

The congressmen said they were briefed on the Missouri redistricting situation.

Akin said the meeting was full of negotiations and opinions.

But he said no one reached an agreement on a new redistricting plan.

Actuality:	AKIN3.WAV
Run Time:	00:08
Description: You know how these political things are. There's never progress until you get to the conclusion, and then there is. So, it's just a lot of negotiation.

Last week House Republicans said the Senate refused to work out differences over congressional district lines.

The Senate's plan and the House's plan would eliminate Democratic U.S. Representative Russ Carnahan's congressional district.

From the state Capitol, I'm Danielle McCarthy.

Intro:	Republican U.S. lawmakers met behind closed doors Monday with state senators and representatives to discuss Missouri's plan for redistricting.
RunTime:	0:43
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson and Congressmen Blaine Luetkemeyer and Todd Akin met at Republican Headquarters in Jefferson City.

While both congressmen were reluctant to detail the meeting's events, Akin did say there were some negotiations that were made.

But Luetkemeyer said no agreement on a new congressional map was reached.

Actuality:	LUETKE2.WAV
Run Time:	00:07
Description: I think they're coming close to an agreement. But as with all things legislative it takes a while to come to work through the process, so we'll see where they're at.

Akin said it is possible he will stay longer in Jefferson City because Congress is not in session this week.

This comes after last week when House Republicans accused the Senate of refusing a conference to work out redistricting differences.

From the state Capitol, I'm Danielle McCarthy.

Intro:	Republican Congressmen met with state senators and representatives behind closed doors to discuss state redistricting.
RunTime:	0:42
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson and Congressmen Blaine Luetkemeyer and Todd Akin attended the meeting at Republican Headquarters in Jefferson City.

Both congressmen revealed little information about what was said at the meeting.

But Akin did say many opinions were heard and negotiations were made.

Actuality:	AKIN2.WAV
Run Time:	00:05
Description: Certain people agreed on certain things, and some didn't agree. The point is to get everybody to agree. We don't have everybody on board.

The debate among Republicans has mostly been over the way the district lines are drawn.

Monday's meeting comes after House Republicans claimed the Senate refused to work out differences over congressional district lines .

The Senate and House maps would both elimate a St. Louis city congressional district.

From the state Capitol, I'm Danielle McCarthy.