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Austin elected assistant floor leader

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Rep. Kevin Austin was formally elected by his caucus as assistant floor leader today just before lawmakers convene for a special session to consider overriding gubernatorial vetoes.

Austin, a sophomore who chairs the Judiciary Committee in the House, will be working underneath Rep. Mike Cierpiot, who was recently elected Majority Floor Leader at the annual Republican summer caucus.

Together,Cierpiot and Austin will determine which bills come to the floor in the House and when, a powerful position for elected officials looking to climb the ladder. Austin, a Springfield Republican, is rumored to be weighing a run for the state senate. Springfield Republican state senator Bob Dixon will be termed out of office in 2018.

Cierpoit called Austin a “great addition” to the leadership team.