JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Sen. Gary Nodler is resigning as chairman of the Appropriations Committee to focus on his congressional campaign.
The Republican from Joplin has led the Senate budget-writing panel the past two legislative sessions and has served on it all seven years he has been in the Senate. He said Friday that he would step down as chairman effective Nov. 30.
Nodler says he wants to avoid an appearance of a conflict of interest as he runs for a southwest Missouri congressional seat in 2010. Nodler will remain in the state Senate.
Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields has appointed Sen. Rob Mayer, a Republican from Dexter, as the new appropriations chairman. Mayer had been vice chairman.
