Bill has uphill battle

Intro: With a shortage of time, a full House calendar and a rejected amendment, St. Louis may have to wait to gain control of its own police department. Rebecca Layne has more from Jefferson City. RunTime:0:46
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A bill that would give St. Louis control of its own police department was delayed en route to the House due to a rejected ammendment.

This amendment called for Kansas City to gain control of its department as well.

With only five weeks left in the legislative session, co-sponsor Rodney Hubbard expresses optimism for the bill's success.

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Description: We're confident that it's going to make it on the calendar. So it's a process of us working with the majority party to try to get this bill on the floor, get some floor time, to have a spirited, honest, open debate about this piece of legislation.

Opponents of the bill include the St. Louis Police Officers Association that says political interference could affect its pension plan.

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Rebecca Layne.

Intro: A bill to allow St. Louis control of its police department is back in the House Rules Committee after an amendment proposing that Kansas City also be added to the bill was rejected. Rebecca Layne has more from Jefferson City. RunTime:0:39
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Bill co-sponsor, Rodney Hubbard, said the amendment would be a deterrent to the St. Louis cause.

Hubbard had this to say:

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Description: Our sole focus was to deal with the St.Louis Police Department. We just felt that once that amendment was tacked on the bill that it brought a lot of opposition that basically could derail the chance of this bill being passed.

Currently, the St. Louis police department is controlled by the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners appointed by the governor.

Hubbard expresses confidence this bill can make it onto the House floor for debate.

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Rebecca Layne.

Intro: Time is running out on an Urban Issues Committee bill that proposes city control of the St. Louis police department. Rebecca Layne has more from Jefferson City. RunTime:0:43
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A rejected amendment to add Kansas City to the bill has landed it back into the House Rules Committee for further debate.

Vice-Chair of the Urban Issues committee, TD El-Amin, says St. Louis deserves to have a say in the issue.

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Description: The citizens of the city of St. Louis and its region are contributing over 25% of its tax dollars to the state. So it's not with good conscious that we don't have a direct voice in governing our affairs with the police department.

Sponsors of the bill express confidence it will make it to the House for debate.

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Rebecca Layne.