Senate confirms Linda Martinez

Intro: After weeks of deliberation, the senate voted to confirm Linda Martinez as Director of the Department of Economic Development.

Rebecca Beitsch (b-EYE-ch) has more from the capitol.

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Martinez was confirmed with a simple majority in the senate.

St. Louis Republican Senator Scott Rupp, one of Martinez most vocal critics, provided some commentary during the confirmation as he accused the governor of threatening him through calling other public officials in his district.

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Description: Well governor, I am not scared of your threats. I am not afraid of your attempts to intimidate me. You can threaten me all you want, and you can take my community directory, and you can call every single elected official in my county, and you can go ahead and make your threats. Let's see how far that gets you.

Martinez is the first woman to hold the position as the state's head on economic development.

From the capitol, I'm Rebecca Beitsch, 1120 KMOX News.

Intro: It took a filibuster on the Senate floor and more than a month of deliberations but Linda Martinez is officially confirmed by the Senate to take the reins as Director of the Department of Economic Development.

Rebecca Beitsch (b-EYE-ch) has more from the capitol.

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OutCue: SOC

Accusations flew that Martinez aided illegal immigrants and even faced charges she wasn't being confirmed because she was a woman.

Senator Scott Rupp, a St. Louis County Republican, answered accusations of being a sexist on the Senate floor.

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Description: They will make an example out of this senator. We have the governor's representatives coming out on the floor and saying the only reason we're standing up is because Ms. Martinez is a female. But yet we have already approved numerous females on this floor.

Last week, Sen. Robin Wright-Jones said she was curious if the Martinez appointment was slowed down because she is a woman.

Martinez was confirmed with majority vote.

From the capitol, I'm Rebecca Beitsch, 1120 KMOX News.

Intro: After a delayed vote, charges of helping illegal immigrants, and a filibuster, Linda Martinez is finally confirmed to lead the Department of Economic Development.

Rebecca Beitsch (b-EYE-ch) has more from the capitol.

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OutCue: SOC

Martinez's involvement with illegal immigrants was the focus of senate debate ahead of a majority vote confirming her to lead the Department of Economic Development.

St. Louis County Senator Scott Rupp, one of Martinez's harshest critics, said he would not let the issue die despite the governor's efforts to intimidate him.

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Description: You know you may think you can intimidate me because you're the governor, but you are wrong. I am standing here on principle and I am standing here on the belief for the basic fundamental right that my constituents believe that Missouri jobs are for Missouri families and not for those that are here illegally in this country.

Martinez is the first woman to lead the Department of Economic Development.

From the capitol, I'm Rebecca Beitsch, 1120 KMOX News.