House Democrats move to put an ethics bill back on the legislative calendar

Intro:	House Democrats used a Constitutional provision to strip an ethics reform bill out of committee.
RunTime:	0:36
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Democratic representative Terry Witte used a petition signed by every House Democrat and three Republicans to get the bill before the House.

The bill, which places greater restrictions on issues like campaign contributions, was voted down by the House Rules committee Monday.

Witte could only guess why.

Actuality:	WITTE.WAV
Run Time:	00:04
Description: "Apparently somebody on the Rules committee does not like caps on campaign contributions."

Governor Jay Nixon sent out a letter reprimanding the Rules committee and urging legislators to pass ethics reform before this session closes.

A Republican leader says there will be no vote on the bill.

From the State Capitol, I'm Scott Kanowsky.

Intro:	Governor Jay Nixon urged legislators to move on a bill restricting the limit of contributions politicians can receive.
RunTime:	0:46
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: In a strongly worded message to House members, Governor Nixon urged them to pass ethics legislation this session.

Nixon was not available for comment, but the top House Democrat Paul LeVota echoed the his desire.

Actuality:	LEVOTA3.WAV
Run Time:	00:15
Description: "It's important we get done this session and it's important for the people of Missouri that we reform ethics, that we get rid of this perception in the state of Missouri that this is a pay-for-play environment and that we do these things to restore accountability to the government."

A bill that took out lobbyist gift-giving restrictions was held from debate on the House floor by the House Rules committee.

House Democrats and three Republicans signed a petition Tuesday stripping the bill out of committee.

GOP leaders promised to prevent the bill from the House floor.

From the State Capitol, I'm Scott Kanowsky.

Intro:	A top House Republican leader vowed that a ethics bill was dead.
RunTime:	0:42
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: House Republican leadership kept the bill away from floor debate, but House Democrats and three Republicans signed a petition stripping the bill out of committee.

House Speaker Pro-Tem Bryan Pratt says the move will only destroy the legislation.

Actuality:	PRATT4.WAV
Run Time:	00:14
Description: "It's never been done in the decade, in the eight years I've been here, and Democrats and Kraus and Dusenberg were told if they discharge the bill they'll kill. And despite their choice, and despite their best efforts to kill this bill, we're not going to let it happen."

House Republican Kevin Wilson shared this opinion.

Actuality:	COOL.WAV
Run Time:	00:04
Description: "Their actions, you know I think negated what we were, what I was, planning to move forward with."

Republican leadership says they will not allow debate on the bill.

From the State Capitol, I'm Scott Kanowsky.