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A Senate filibuster blocked a vote to turn down payraises for lawmakers

A Missouri Senate filibuster blocked a vote on a resolution to prevent pay raises for lawmakers and judges.

Renny MacKay has more from Jefferson City.

The Missouri Citizen's Salary Commission decided lawmakers and judges should receive an 11 pecent pay increase over the next two years.

Senator Marvin Singleton introduced a resolution to reverse that decision.

Today, debate over the resolution started on the floor of the Senate and several lawmakers filibustered, preventing a vote.

They say low salaries make it so only the rich can govern.

Renny MacKay KMOX News Jefferson City.

Several Senators blocked a vote today over a proposal to stop a payraise for lawmakers and judges in Missouri.

Renny MacKay has more from Jefferson City.

One lawmaker talked about the history of Shannon County on the floor of the Senate during the debate over the payraises. Another wanted to try and clarify a supreme court decision on payraises for legislators and judges.

All of this upset the sponsor of the resolution, Senator Marvin Singleton.

Singleton's resolution has to be approved before February first or else the payraises automatically go into effect.

If they do, legislators can still vote to eliminate their raises in an appropriations bill.

Renny MacKay, KMOX News, Jefferson City.

Missouri Senators prevented a vote on a resolution to eliminate their payraises today, and further blockage will cause the payraises to go into effect.

Renny MacKay has more from Jefferson City.

Lawmakers are due for an eleven percent pay increase according to the Missouri citizen's salary commission. But, one Senator says those pay increases are too high, but he's getting a lot of opposition.

Senator Danny Staples helped block the vote.

Propents of the payraise also say low salaries mean only the rich can govern and a payraise can be voted down later.

They also accused the bill's sponsor, Marvin Singleton of grandstanding for the television cameras.

Renny MacKay, KMOX News, Jefferson City.