Two Mo. senators urge joint ticket for governor

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Two Republican state senators want candidates for Missouri governor and lieutenant governor to run on joint party tickets.

Sen. John Lamping, of St. Louis County, has proposed an amendment to the state Constitution requiring anyone running for governor to pick a running mate before the party primaries.

A constitutional amendment by Sen. Jason Crowell, of Cape Girardeau, would let candidates for governor name their running mates after the primaries.

Crowell and Lamping outlined their proposals Monday to a Senate committee. Both would take effect beginning with the 2016 elections if they pass the Legislature and win approval on a statewide ballot.

Committee chairman Kevin Engler, of Farmington, said the panel will choose one of the proposals to endorse in the next few weeks.