Missouri Black Caucus frustrated with lack of progress on Ferugson related legislation

Intro:	The Missouri Black Caucus is angry at House Speaker John Diehl for not advancing Ferguson related bills.
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Wrap: The leader of the Missouri Black Caucus isn't happy with House Speaker John Diehl.

Representative Brandon Ellington says while the General Assembly's inability to pass Ferguson related bills is frustrating, the message lawmakers are sending is worse.

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Description: Missouri is sending out a message that we're racist and don't care. Missouri is sending out a message that we have law enforcement officers that abuse so-called minorities and we're comfortable with it.

Ellington also said a bill reducing the amount of money cities can take from traffic tickets is a good start, but not enough to make a change.

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

Intro:	The Missouri Black Causus isn't happy with House leadership.
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Wrap: The Missouri Black Caucus sharply criticized House Speaker John Diehl for his lack of commitment to several bills filed in the wake of Michael Brown's death.

And they're still not happy with Ferguson city leaders even though the city's police chief, Tom Jackson, resigned Wednesday afternoon.

This came from Representative Tommie Pearson.

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Description: It's not enough for all of the King's men to fall and the king doesn't fall

However the group did say there were encouraged by legislation that would change Mack's Creek Law, even though they think it doesn't go far enough to solve the problems in St. Louis City and County.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Matt Kalish, NewsRadio 1120, KMOX.

Intro:	The head of the Missouri Black Causus said Wednesday Missouri will be viewed as racist if legislaiton isn't passed relating to Ferguson.
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Wrap: The comments from Represenative Brandon Ellington came during a Wednesday afternoon news conferece where members of the Missorui Black Causus said they weren't happy with House Speaker John Diehl for not advancing legislation they've filed as a result of the events in Ferguson.

Ellington later added that current law doesn't protect minorities from being targeted by police.

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Description: There isn't one black that you can point to that hasn't had a mis-interaction with law enforcement. Not one.

He later added that seven bills filed in the House addressing those concerns and other Ferugson related issues have yet to been assigned to a committee.

Reporting from the state capitol, I'm Matt Kalish.