Missouri Senate adds one to Ethics Commission

The Missouri State Capitol is pictured here in August 2017.
The Missouri State Capitol is pictured here in August 2017.

Missouri's Ethics Commission now has the bare minimum number of members needed to hold official meetings.

On a voice vote, the state Senate this morning approved Gov. Eric Greitens' appointment of former state Rep. Wayne Henke, D-Troy, to the six-member commission.

Henke's confirmation brings the commission's membership to four, with two vacancies.

Greitens last week also appointed Bill Birkes, of Joplin, to the six-member commission.

But Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard, R-Joplin, said he's waiting until the governor fills the final vacant spot before submitting Birkes' nomination to the floor so that the bipartisan commission continues to have equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans on the commission.

Henke's approval means the commission can conduct official business at next week's scheduled meeting - including the possibility of discussing a complaint filed this spring against Greitens.