Missouri attorney general hopefuls slam Obama on bathrooms

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's two Republican candidates for attorney general say the Obama administration is overstepping its bounds through a directive for bathroom access for transgender students.

Attorney Josh Hawley and state Sen. Kurt Schaefer said that constitutes federal overreach during a Monday debate on Columbia-based Zimmer Radio stations.

At issue is a directive from President Barack Obama's administration that calls for public schools to allow transgender people to use restrooms matching their gender identities. That comes amid a legal battle over a North Carolina law requiring transgender people to use public bathrooms, showers and changing rooms that correspond to the sex on their birth certificate.

Hawley and Schaefer face an Aug. 2 Republican primary. They're hoping to replace Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster, who is running for governor.

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The Gayly - 5/16/2016 @ 12:47 a.m. CDT