Mo. senator resigns for utility job

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A Missouri senator has resigned to take a new position on the state's utility regulatory commission.

Republican Sen. Scott Rupp of Wentzville resigned shortly before the Senate went into session Thursday. Senators then confirmed Rupp's appointment by Gov. Jay Nixon to the Missouri Public Service Commission. Rupp was to begin work at the commission later Thursday.

The commission's duties include the approval of rates charged to customers by investor-owned electric, gas and water companies.

Rupp was first elected to the state House in 2002 and won a special election to the Senate in 2006. He would have been barred by term limits from seeking re-election this year.

The Public Service Commission job pays about three times as much as Rupp's state Senate position.