Missouri lawmakers to observe King holiday for first time

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- For the first time, the Missouri Legislature will close for the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Republicans, who gained full control of the Legislature this year, announced the decision Monday and said it was long overdue.

Historically, the Legislature has worked on both the King holiday -- which is Jan. 20 this year -- and on Presidents Day.

In 1983, Republican President Ronald Reagan designating the third Monday in January as a national holiday to observe King's Jan. 15 birthday. It was first celebrated nationwide in January 1986, and all 50 states now observe the day honoring the civil rights leader who was assassinated in 1968 at the age of 39.

"This is a first for the Missouri General Assembly and a practice that I hope will be continued by the leaders of the future as we honor important Americans from our past," said Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau. "This is an appropriate and proper change and one that is long overdue in the state of Missouri."

House Speaker Catherine Hanaway, R-Warson Woods, said the idea of closing the Statehouse to recognize King was first proposed four years ago when Republicans were the minority party.

"This is not an attempt to woo black voters because I don't think it would work. I don't think this will change the percentage of African-American voters that the Republicans get," Hanaway said. "This shows a sincerity on our part to celebrate this holiday."

Republicans said the holiday falls early enough in the session that it will not cause any critical delays in legislation.

'This is a message'

Sen. Maida Coleman, who is black, said Republicans were trying to reach out to the black community, which often leans Democratic.

"This is a message to the African-American community that the Republicans are serious about their attempts to bring African-Americans over to the Republican side," said Coleman, D-St. Louis.

"I think the Republicans are showing they are smart enough to put their money where their mouth is," she added. "I believe that there is sincerity, but at the same time I believe that there's an agenda and they have a right to play out their agenda."

Rep. Sherman Parker of St. Charles, the lone black Republican in the House, said the decision was far from political.

"We are doing this because it's the right thing to do," Parker said.