With Term Limits, Capitol Near-Empty in Fall
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With Term Limits, Capitol Near-Empty in Fall

Date: October 2, 2017
By: Jack Morrisroe
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
Missouri's state Capitol building is all but deserted in the fall and term limits may be to blame.
RunTime: 0:40
OutCue: SOC

Wrap: In a building full of legislators, staff, lobbyists and schoolchildren on most spring weekdays, the emptiness is felt immediately. You can hear your shoes hit the stone floor with every step, echoing off of the vast hallways. 

Statehouse correspondent Phill Brooks said the finality of legislative service impacts the quality of Missouri's policy choices.

Actuality:  PHILL2.WAV
Run Time: 00:13
Description: Before term limits you had legislators who had a commitment to being here almost year-long. They saw that their service in the legislature was going to be a near-lifelong commitment.

Brooks also said the Capitol building in the fall feels like a tomb.

Jack Morrisroe, Newsradio 1120, KMOX.

Intro: 
Missouri's Capitol building is 'largely unused' during the fall and term limits are the likely culprit.
RunTime: 0:45
OutCue: SOC

Wrap: The state Capitol is filled with legislative offices. There are offices for the governor, treasurer and auditor, but the vast majority of offices are for senators, representatives and their staffs. When summer rolls around, barring any special sessions, the Capitol building empties out.

Experienced statehouse correspondent Phill Brooks said the Captiol building was used by legislators more often before term limits were instituted.

Actuality:  PHILL1.WAV
Run Time: 00:17
Description: There were legislators with less commitment to the process of being here in the summer and the fall for interim committee meetings, and so the buzz of the legislative activity in this building diminished.
Jack Morrisroe, Newsradio 1120, KMOX.