JEFFERSON CITY - A House appropriations committee has passed a modified version of Governor Blunt's Medicaid proposal. The House plan would restore some cuts to services for the elderly and disabled by creating a premium for families enrolled in Medicaid's insurance program for children, called CHIPS.

The plan would also impact disabled Medicaid applicants and recipients. Disabled Missourians would be judged by a point-system designed to rate their level of disability.

A few hours later, a Senate committee cleared for full Senate debate a companion measure that would make permanent cuts in Medicaid.

Get the radio story on the Senate committee action.

JEFFERSON CITY - The Senate gave approval to a somewhat revised version of the House-passed bill to restrict liability lawsuits and lawsuit awards.

The vote was along straight party lines.

The measure now goes to a House-Senate conference committee. It is similar to the proposal vetoed by former Gov. Bob Holden last year.

JEFFERSON CITY - Workers at the Capitol can now subscribe to a wireless network to access the Internet.

Missouri House of Representatives provides the service.

JEFFERSON CITY - James Klahr, from the Attorney General's office, said that it is necessary to make spamming a felony in order to give Missouri the legal right to prosecute out-of-state people who spam Missouri residents.

The bill is modeled after a similar bill pioneered by Virginia state legislators.

JEFFERSON CITY - The Senate passed and sent to the House a measure that would allow for automatic rate increases by utility companies to reflect rising fuel costs.

The adjustment formula would have to be approved by the agency that regulates utility rates, the Public Service Commission.

The measure also would allow a similar automatic rate increase by utilities to cover costs for compliance of environmental orders.

JEFFERSON CITY - After a lengthy debate, which drew the ire from some of the Republican members, the joint Senate-House committee assigned to fix the school's foundation formula passed its version Tuesday night.

The proposal will be debated in House and Senate committees early next week.

JEFFERSON CITY - The commission assigned to provide recomendations to reorganize state government to Gov. Matt Blunt held its first meeting Tuesday morning.

Blunt said he expects the recomendations will help his administration make state government more efficient.

JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri House voted Tuesday to make it illegal to transport a minor out of state to receive an abortion.

The legislation also made changes to the regulations on physicians performing abortions as well as the laws in aiding a minor who is seeking an abortion.

JEFFERSON CITY - The new bill would install cameras at dangerous intersections in the city of St. Louis.

It's the first program of its kind in Missouri.

JEFFERSON CITY - With virtually no debate, the Senate gave first-round approval to a measure that would let police stop drivers who are not wearing their seat belts -- called primary enforcement.

Current law requires seat belt use, but police are prohibited from stopping a driver for not wearing a belt. A ticket for being beltless can be issued only if the driver has been stopped for some other reason.

The Senate version also would prohibit trucks from being in the far left lane on multi-lane highways of

JEFFERSON CITY - Under the bill the Missouri Department of Transportation would pay for state roads running through St. Louis.

A measure to have the state take financial responsibility for some of the city's roads was presented to a House committee Monday.

The Transportation Department, however, said it did not have enough money to do it.

JEFFERSON CITY - Supporters and protestors spilled out into the hallway around a Senate hearing room Monday where a companion bill to Gov. Matt Blunt's proposed Medicaid cuts was heard before committee.

The bill would eliminate coverage for expenses related to dental work, wheelchairs, eye care and podiatry.

JEFFERSON CITY - A proposed bill would make it illegal to help minors get an abortion, including helping them cross state lines.

Minors need parental consent to get an abortion in Missouri, but not in Illinois

JEFFERSON CITY - Republican Matt Bartle of Jackson County says Missouri's porn industry has thrived too much under what he says are laws that have fallen behind.

The law initiates a five dollar admission tax and a 20% tax on gross receipts.

JEFFERSON CITY - The Department of Mental Health's director testified before the Senate Appropriations committee Monday on the effects of Gov. Matt Blunt's proposed budget cuts.

Outside, protestors cried against the reductions planned for Medicaid's budget.

JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Matt Blunt announced his choice to lead the Department of Social Services today.

Gary Sherman is a Missouri Native currently working as chairman of the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Wyoming.