Republicans are pushing Richard Byrd of St. Louis County, Jason Crowell of Cape Girardeau and Merrill Townley of Chamois for floor leader if they become the majority party.
Rep. Richard Byrd, R-St. Louis County, successfully added an amendment that would split the proposed Ballpark Village development into six parts, five of which must be completed by the end of 2011. The Village as proposed could include residential, office and retail space as well as parking. The bill had previously required that only half of the Village be finished in 2011.
Rep. Rod Jetton of Marble Hill said he is the only Republican planning to run for speaker pro tem. But the position of floor leader, which decides the order in which bills are debated, is expected to be a race between Rep. Richard Byrd of St. Louis County and Rep. Jason Crowell of Cape Girardeau.
Rep. Richard Byrd, R-Kirkwood, said he had been given an assurance by Gov. Bob Holden in his 2001 State of the State Address that tobacco money would be used for specific health care and life science programs.