Democrats stall Senate action on any bill after record breaking filibuster
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Democrats stall Senate action on any bill after record breaking filibuster

Date: March 14, 2016
By: Shannon Shaver
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
The Missouri is in a partisan gridlock for the second week in a row after a record-breaking filibuster.
RunTime: 0:53
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Senator Scott Sifton from St. Louis County led Democrats in a stall of legislative action during session on Monday.

Last week, Democrats accused Republicans of using an improper parliamentary trick during the filibuster of a resolution to allow businesses to refuse services to gay marriages.

Sifton said that the body should remember that there are 32 voices to be heard.

Actuality:  SIFTONB.WAV
Run Time: 00:17
Description: I'm trying to make the point, about going forward, and that when we go forward, I think it's important for us to understand that there as many as 32 different opinions on what any given piece of legislation ought to look like before it comes to a vote.

During a news conference after the Republican leadership gave up on the session, Republican Floor Leader Mike Kehoe said that he hopes to move forward with the Senate's agenda of bills.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Shannon Shaver.

Intro: 
For the second week in a row a filibuster has shut down the Senate.
RunTime: 0:44
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The Senate continues to be in a partisan gridlock after the filibuster of a resolution to allow businesses to refuse services to gay marriages.

Democrats held the floor in order to keep the body from moving forward with any legislation.

Republican Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard did not commit to an answer on whether this will continue.

Actuality:  RONRIC.WAV
Run Time: 00:15
Description: I'm not sure that's the pace, but if it is, I think the majority leader has indicated that he's just gonna stay on the calendar just like we would before. So I don't see that anything is gonna change, the pace may change or may not, you know, let's just see.

Republican Floor Leader Mike Kehoe said there are a lot of bills that still need to be discussed.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Shannon Shaver.

Intro: 
Missouri Democrats continue their efforts to block the Senate from taking any action.
RunTime: 0:46
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: For two hours, the Democrats complained about Republicans' actions during a filibuster the week before of a resolution to allow businesses to refuse services to gay marriages.

Democrat Jason Holsman of Kansas City joined in to voice his opinions regarding the body's actions.

Actuality:  HOLSMAN.WAV
Run Time: 00:21
Description: A procedural motion was used at that moment that did not allow for other senators to participate in trying to fix the problem. A filibuster is designed for compromise, when you have the minority locked out of being able to publicly negotiate and then you move to procedural question, that is not a compromise.

Republican Majority Leader Mike Kehoe gave no suggestions that Republicans are willing to compromise.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Shannon Shaver.

Intro: 
A partisan gridlock in the Missouri Senate stalled any legislative action on bills for the second week in a row.  
RunTime: 0:45
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Democrats used their time on the floor to complain about the filibuster of a resolution to allow businesses to refuse services to gay marriages from last week.

They went so far as to require a staffer to read the Senate's journal from last week for almost an hour.

The body did not discuss any bills because of the stall by the Democrats.

Republican Floor Leader Mike Kehoe expressed hope they would get to Senate business soon. 

Actuality:  KEHOECAL.WAV
Run Time: 00:11
Description: You know, we have a lot of bills on the perfection calendar so, outcome or no outcome, what you like or don't like about last week, we ate up a lot of time that we'd like to try to make up and get some perfection bills moving.
Sifton said he is worried about moving forward with legislation that has been opposed by Democrats.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Shannon Shaver.