The bill also would make it easier to fire Division of Family Services workers who don't follow department policy was given preliminary approval by the House.

The bill would also implement a privatization pilot project in St. Louis City, Greene County and a rural Missouri county.

The measure faces one more Senate vote before going to the House.

Sponsored by a Republican and passed by the Republican-controlled Senate, the plan won immediate endorsement from the state's Democratic governor and lieutenant governor.

However, after the overwhelming rejection by Missouri voters of tax increases for highways, transportation advocates argue toll roads might be the only realistic solution to meeting the state's highway needs.

Newman, a representative of the St. Louis Women's Coalition, testified before a Senate Committee Tuesday against a measure that would allow Missouri residents to carry concealed weapons.

The bill would give a 21-year-old who goes through 12 hours of training and gets finger printed the right to conceal a gun.

The committee is scheduled to vote on the bill Wednesday.

Supporters argued the state could not afford the non-binding primary during a year of a tight budget.

But opponents to the appropriations cut argued the primary still would be held, since even without funds there is a law requiring a primary.

The House has a bill that would eliminate that law.

The Senate committee also voted to cut $2 million from the advertising budget of the the state's lotteries.