Missouri House members re-take oath of office

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri House members have taken their oaths of office for a second time because of a mix-up the first time.

The 2013 session started last week, and the newly elected legislators pledged to support the "government" instead of the "constitution." House leaders decided on Monday to repeat the oath during a morning session conducted before the inaugural ceremony for statewide elected officials.

House Speaker Pro Tem Jason Smith, a Republican from Salem, says it is important for legislators to publicly vow to support the U.S. and Missouri constitutions.

However, the second swearing-in likely only was ceremonial. After orally repeating the oath Wednesday with the misspoken word, legislators then signed a correctly phrased written version.