JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The recent resignations of two lawmakers highlights one costly side effect of Missouri's term-limits law.

House members Dennis Wood, of Kimberling City, and Ed Wildberger, of St. Joseph, both resigned to take other jobs instead of serving until term limits barred them from seeking re-election next year.

Special elections have been set for February to pick their replacements. And those elections are likely to cost tens of thousands of dollars.

In the past eight years, Missouri has spent around a half-million dollars on special elections to replace lawmakers who quit for other jobs as they neared the end of their maximum allowed time in the Legislature.