JEFFERSON CITY - Jackson County Representative Bryan Pratt has proposed a bill to regulate programs installed on personal computers without the user's knowledge.
MU graduates Minority Leader Jeff Harris, D-Columbia and Reps. Bryan Pratt, R-Blue Springs, and Brian Yates, R-Lee's Summit, crossed the aisle to oppose the measure while the bill's House sponsor Rep. B.J. Marsh, R-Springfield, was able to enlist some Democratic support as well.
A similar bill was rejected by the House last session thanks in part to resistance from within the Republican caucus. Reps. Bryan Pratt, R-Blue Springs and Bob Johnson, R-Lee's Summit, testified against the bill, which suggests the name change faces significant hurdles on the House floor.
Proponents of the bill said many of the state's civil cases are heard in St. Louis and Jackson County because plaintiffs take advantage of the existing law to "venue shop" for the courts that award the highest damages. Rep. Bryan Pratt, R-Jackson County, said it was unfair for the residents of his district to judge the cases of people who aren't from his county and were not injured in his county.