End to Senate Filibuster could delay progress moving forward

Intro:	One Democratic senator said the way the Senate's historic filibuster ended could halt progress this session.
RunTime:	0:36
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap:

Republican Senators raised the previous question halting floor debate while St. Louis County Democrat Scott Sifton asked to be heard on the floor.

St. Louis Democrat County Gina Walsh said the way the historic filibuster in the Missouri Senate ended this week could stall progress moving forward.

Actuality:	GWALSH1.WAV
Run Time:	00:08
Description: "I can say I think there will be, and I think it's evident by what happened when we went back into chamber after we stood at ease."

Republican Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard said the debate had accomplished all it could and senators were meandering on the floor.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jill Ornitz.

Intro:	The president of the Missouri senate said the body's roughly 37 hour filibuster gave both sides equal time to speak, but one Democrat says the way the debate ended could set a dangerous precedent.
RunTime:	0:40
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard said the historic filibuster in the Senate needed to end because it was no longer productive.

Actuality:	RRSJR39A.WAV
Run Time:	00:12
Description: "We felt that the debate wasn't being substinative and that the debate was starting to meander and wasn't staying to the context of the legislation."

Democratic St. Louis Senator Gina Walsh said the way the debate ended could set a dangerous precedent and delay progress.

Walsh said fellow St. Louis Democrat Scott Sifton requested to be heard on the floor, but was ignored as Republican senators raised the previous question to halt floor debate.

Reporting from the state Captiol, I'm Jill Ornitz.

Intro:	Missouri Senate leadership said the nearly 37 hour filibuster was fair to both supporters and detractors of the legislation that would allow service providers to refuse service based on religious beliefs.
RunTime:	0:40
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Republican Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard told reporters the debate in the Senate gave each side equal opportunity to share their view but had to end as the debate became increasingly less relevant to the legislation.

Actuality:	RRSJR39.WAV
Run Time:	00:11
Description: "We've been going on, like I said, for 40 hours. We thought that that was fair. We thought that was information we, I mean the whole world was listening, one side or the other."

Democratic St. Louis Senator Gina Walsh said Republicans ignored fellow St. Louis Democrat Scott Sifton when he asked to be heard on the floor.

Walsh said this could slow progress for the rest of the legislative session.

Reporting from the state Captiol, I'm Jill Ornitz.

Intro:	One St. Louis democratic senator said the end to a roughly 37 hour filibuster could slow progress for the remainder of the legislative session.
RunTime:	0:37
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: St. Louis County Democrat Gina Walsh said the end of a filibuster over a bill designed to allow service providers to refuse service based off religious beliefs could slow progress down this session.

Walsh said there was no effort put forward to compromise on the legislation.

Actuality:	GWALSH4.WAV
Run Time:	00:09
Description: "We were run over like a train. Once they use that PQ that ends it all. We were willing to negotiate. There was no negotiating on this bill."

Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard said the time spent on this legislation gave each side a fair opportunity to present information before the body.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jill Ornitz.

Intro:	A St. Louis senator criticized the lack of compromise and procedural maneuvers that ended a roughly 37 hour filibuster.
RunTime:	0:43
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: St. Louis County Democrat Gina Walsh said a lack of compromise coupled with fellow St. Louis Democrat Scott Sifton's request to be heard on the floor before the calling of the previous question to stop debate could slow progress this legislative session.

Walsh said the conclusion of a filibuster to stop a bill designed to exempt service providers from certain business arrangements because of religious beliefs could set a dangerous precedent.

Actuality:	GWALSH5.WAV
Run Time:	00:06
Description: Nobody wanted to sit down with us and cut any deals. So, that's where we end up."

Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard said the debate was fair as each side of the body had the opportunity to present their opinion.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jill Ornitz.