Senate Approves Public Safety Measures Amid a Filibuster

The Senate truly agreed and finally passed two public safety bills on Wednesday and sent two more back to the House for further consideration.  The bills that now will go to the Governor include one that creates a new statewide witness protection fund, and one that removes the residency requirement for first responders in the city of St. Louis. The Senate sent back to the House for further consideration to bills dealing with guns and minors.  

The Senate also employed a rarely-used parliamentary maneuver early Thursday morning to cut off debate on a measure to allow the attorney general to prosecute St. Louis murder cases. The measure, offered by Sen. Bob Onder (R-Lake St. Louis) in the form of an amendment to another bill, was aimed at St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner. Democrats stalled a vote for six hours, noting that the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys opposed the measure.  At about 1:20 a.m., however, Onder withdrew his original amendment and submitted a new one adding an expiration date of August 2023 in an apparent concession to Democrats. A vote was then called in spite of the filibuster and the measure passed 22-8.  It now goes back to the House.

The House and Senate are scheduled to reconvene on September 11 and 12.