Before leaving for their spring break, Missouri's Senate passed and sent to the House legislation to impose additional restrictions on telemarketers.

In addition to tougher restrictions, the proposal would have the state manage a no-call list of Missourians who requested to be put on the list. Telemarketing companies would be prohibited from calling anyone on the list.

Sen. Ken Jacob (D-Columbia) joined other lawmakers in a successful attempt to suspend debate on the motion until after the legislature's week-long spring break, which began today. Jacob says the Senate should not take any action on the federal gas tax until it can be thoroughly debated.

Meanwhile, questions about Missouri's $0.17 per gallon gas tax surfaced during debate today. Sen. John Schneider (D-St. Louis County) reminded lawmakers that while the federal government imposes a gas tax, the state has a much higher one. Schneider and other lawmakers said while the legislature should consider a repeal or revision of the state gas tax, any immediate action on the subject would be irresponsible.

A pipeline rupture in Texas will impact the amount of gasoline available in St. Louis. About 500,000 gallons of gas escaped from an Explorer pipeline that ruptured outside of Greenville, Texas. The pipeline supplies reformulated gasoline to stations in the St. Louis area.

Missouri's Department of Natural Resources is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ensure a supply of non-reformulated gasoline is available until the reformulated supplies return to normal.

The Senate amended the bill to prohibit open alcohol containers in vehicles. Earlier versions allowed open containers when the driver had not been drinking. In addition, the Senate voted to prevent police from charging motorists with 0.08 violations unless the driver was charged with an additional moving violation. That would mean drivers with blood-alcohol levels between 0.08 and 0.10 could not be charged at checkpoints.

The restriction has been the subject of lawsuits for the past few years. In the last set of decisions, the courts have upheld the right of the legislature to block funding to organizations that perform abortions or advocate abortion rights.

The family planning funds is in the Health Department's budget that was approved by the House.

Taxpayers paid $500 for a chartered bus plus the salary of two teachers for St. Louis County school children to travel to the capitol to speak against gun violence.

Earlier Wednesday morning gun rights advocates gathered in th Capitol rotunda.

The program faced opposition from a former drug addict who thinks the program is a bad idea.

The measure would establish a no-call list in the Attorney General's office that would be filled by Missourians who asked to be placed on the list.

Telemarketing firms would be prohibited from calling anyone on the list.

The bill faces a final Senate vote before going to the House.

The suit alleges the subsidiary, Columbia Foods, improperly dumped about 4,600 tons of hot dog casings at a private residence near the state conservation area Eagle Bluffs near the Missouri River south of Columbia.

Nixon said the casings -- sheaths of cellulose used to mold hot dogs -- are biodegradable, but threaten the environment because they contain by-products harmful to nearby streams and countryside.

Stronger fines and sentences of up to seven years in prison for people who steal pets or buy stolen pets could help.

The measure, which is sponsored by Sen. Mary Bland, D-Kansas City, encountered opposition from lawmakers of both political parties.

However, trigger locks have garnered the support of Gov. Mel Carnahan and other leading officials, especially in the wake of recent school violence in Michigan and Littleton, Colorado.