By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – 
Missouri lawmakers will start new session today (Wednesday) at noon.
Republicans will control this new General Assembly with an even larger margin.
There will also be new leaders in the House and Senate. Rod Jetton will be the new Speaker of the House; Mike Gibbons, of Kirkwood, will be the Senate's President pro Tem.
Democrats will also have new leaders: Jeff Harris in the House and St. Louisan Maida Coleman in the Senate.
It will mark the first time in 80 years that a Republican will hold the both the Governor's mansion and complete control of the state House and Senate.
KWMU's Maria Hickey spoke Tuesday with David Lieb, a reporter for the Associated Press in Jefferson City, who says it's likely to be a more business-friendly place this year.
To hear the interview, click on the 'listen' icon above.