Plocher and other Republicans contend the demographer could be a partisan because the auditor — an elected official — is in charge of filling the post. Democrats say legislative leaders, who are also elected, play a role in confirming that appointment, which would remove any partisanship from the process.

Plocher said his proposed system would allow for a wider array of elected officials to appoint the members, taking politics out of the process.

“You have broader diversification on the panel of interests and perceptions and understandings of what Missouri is all about,” Plocher said.

Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, said the proposal was an effort to undo the will of the voters.

“I think they are going to sell it in a great political way, where it’s about getting rid of an unelected bureaucrat and putting what they call an independent bipartisan citizens commission,” Merideth said. “They will market it to voters as if it is getting rid of gerrymandering, rather than restoring the ability for politicians to gerrymander.”

The legislation could be debated in the full House as early as next week.

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