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The Senate lost a day's worth of work when four senators moved to adjourn. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
Long Version:
IN THE MIDDLE OF A FILLIBUSTER, A HANDFUL OF DEMOCRATIC SENATORS WERE THE ONLY ONES LEFT IN THE SENATE CHAMBER. AS IS TYPICAL DURING A FILLBUSTER, SENATORS WERE NEARBY BUT OUTSIDE THE CHAMBER, MEETING WITH CONSTITUENTS OR GRABBING SOME LUNCH. SO, SENATOR JOAN BRAY MOVED TO ADJOURN.
THAT ANGERED REPUBLICANS WHO HAD HOPED TO BREAK THE DEMOCRATS' FILLIBUSTER BY KEEPING THEM IN SESSION ALL DAY AND INTO THE NIGHT. THE ADJOURNMENT PUT OFF A VOTE ON LEGISLATION THAT WOULD LIMIT JURY AWARDS IN MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAWSUITS. SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEMP PETER KINDER ACKNOWLEDGES REPUBLICANS MADE A MISTAKE BY LEAVING THE CHAMBER.
KINDER SAYS REPUBLICANS WILL RETALIATE.
REPUBLICANS SAY SINCE DEMOCRATS HAVE PROVEN THEY'RE UNWILLING TO COOPERATE, REPUBLICANS WILL USE A PROCEDURE WHEN THE SENATE RECONVENES TO END DEBATE AND FORCE A VOTE, SOMETHING RARELY DONE IN THE SENATE. DEMOCRATIC FLOOR LEADER KEN JACOB SAYS THAT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA.
JACOB SAYS HIS GOAL IS TO STOP THE REPUBLICAN AGENDA FROM ADVANCING. AND HE SAYS HE'LL USE WHATEVER PROCEDURAL MANEUVERING HE CAN TO BLOCK THESE BILLS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT JACOB DOESN'T HAVE THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE SENATORS IN HIS OWN PARTY. THE SENATE'S SENIOR DEMOCRAT WAYNE GOODE HAD HARSH WORDS FOR THOSE INVOLVED.
GOODE SAYS THE PUBLIC SHOULD CARE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT ILLUSTRATES HOW PARTISAN THE SENATE HAS BECOME. HE SAYS IT PREVENTS LAWMAKERS FROM WORKING TOGETHER ON IMPORTANT PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES AND COMING TO SOME AGREEMENT. HE SAYS THE PUBLIC EXPECTS MORE FROM THE MISSOURI SENATE.
THE PROCEDURAL MANEUVERING CAME JUST ONE DAY AFTER THE SENATE WAS IN SESSION UNTIL MIDNIGHT, AS THESE SAME DEMOCRATIC SENATORS DREW OUT DEBATE ON THE STATE'S BUDGET.
