House passes bill changing how employees prove dissemination in wrongful termination lawsuits
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House passes bill changing how employees prove dissemination in wrongful termination lawsuits

Date: April 9, 2015
By: Steven Anthony
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
A fired employee would have to prove discrimination was a motivating factor instead of a contributing factor in a wrongful termination suit if a House bill becomes law.
RunTime:  0:41
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Republican Representative Kevin Engler supported changing the burden of proof for discrimination from a contributing factor to a motivating factor and says Democrats who railed against the bill were off base.

Actuality:  ENGLER1.WAV
Run Time:  00:12
Description: "I've heard from the other side that if we make the motivating factor the motivating factor the only reason... This is not what this says! A motivating factor!"

Engler went on to say employers should be able to fire somebody for poor performance or being late without the threat of a lawsuit hanging over the heads.

The bill was passed by the House in a 95-60 vote and now heads to the Senate.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Steven Anthony.  

Intro: 
Opponents of an employment discrimination bill argued it would make it harder for fired employees to win a wrongful termination suit
RunTime:  0:30
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: St. Louis County Democrat Courtney Allen Curtis spoke against the bill and said Missouri would fail to be a leader in being anti-discriminatory if this bill becomes law.

Actuality:  CAC.WAV
Run Time:  00:13
Description: "We're lowering the bar. We're not a leader in the country, we're not being a leader for Missourians. And we're actually raising the bar in terms of making it harder to prove discrimination."

The bill passed by a 95-60 vote and now heads to the Senate.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Steven Anthony.