Democratic Senators Delay Vote on Re-Introduced Bill

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1/23/2012: Newspaper Story - Debate among Democratic senators kept a business-backed bill from being picked up in the Senate Monday.

3/ 1/2011: Radio Story - The Missouri Senate Commerce Committee was urged cap the amount of damages awarded in lawsuits brought against employers.

3/10/2011: Radio Story - Missouri Senate votes to limit discrimination protection for government employees while one Republican Senator breaks ranks to oppose the plan

Intro:	After Governor Nixon vetoed a similar bill last year, a Missouri Senator isn't giving up on changing workplace discrimination standards.
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Wrap: Republican Senator Brad Lager sponsored both last year's version of the bill and this years and says the Governor can't keep avoiding the issue.

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Description: "Just because you ignore problems, doesn't mean they go away. And more often than not they get larger instead of better."

The legislation would put a cap on the amount of damages victims can receive from workplace discrimination lawsuits.

And also would require that the discrimination be a motivating factor for termination instead of just a contributing one.

Democratic Senators debated until the Senate adjourned, delaying the vote.

Democrats say the bill would make it harder to file workplace discrimination suits.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Matt Evans.

Intro:	Senators spent Monday afternoon debating a bill they passed last session - but they didn't get to a vote. The bill ran into a road block from Democrats.
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Wrap: Last session, the bill quickly passed both the House and Senate before meeting a strong veto from Governor Nixon.

Republican Senator Brad Lager sponsors the bill, and says the basic principles remain the same.

And that doesn't sit well with Democratic Senator Victor Callahan.

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Description: "It's kind of a dumb act to take a bill that the Governor vetoed and pretty much file the same thing."

The legislation would put a cap on the amount of damages victims can receive from workplace discrimination lawsuits.

Democratic Senators debated the bill until the Senate adjourned - delaying any vote.

A House committee passed a similar bill that could be on the House floor as soon as Wednesday.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Matt Evans.

Intro:	Two bills similar to one Governor Nixon vetoed last year are now both on their way to being sent to the Governor again.
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Wrap: Republican Senator Brad Lager sponsored the bill last year and now sponsors a similar Senate bill this year.

The legislation would put a cap on the amount of damages victims can receive from workplace discrimination lawsuits.

Democratic Senators delayed any vote on the bill by arguing that it would make filing discrimination lawsuits tougher for employees.

A House committee passed a different bill with the same principles.

Bill sponsor Republican Representative Kevin Elmer says it challenges the Governor's veto.

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Description: "You could say it's a direct challenge as it's written now, but at the same time I think it's just a reminder that we've got to do something."

Both the Senate and House are expected to continue debate later this week.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Matt Evans.