Mo. redistricting proposal faces Senate opposition

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A proposal to redraw Missouri's congressional map has run into state Senate opposition because of regional disputes.

Senators started debate Tuesday about a proposed map approved by the Missouri House. Senators from southwestern, southeastern, western and eastern Missouri expressed concerns. A central Missouri senator objects to grouping his area with Kansas City.

Missouri lawmakers are drawing a congressional map with eight districts, instead of nine.

The House version is similar to one backed by a Senate committee, but there are differences around the margins. The House puts a bigger chunk of Jefferson County near St. Louis into the 8th Congressional District covering southeastern Missouri. There also are differences in the 7th Congressional District in the southwest corner and in the Kansas City area.

Both maps consolidate St. Louis city into one district.