Sen. Joan Bray, D-St. Louis County, voted against the bill. During floor debate, Bray said she worried children could be intimidated by an audio or video recorder during interviews.
Among the senators who joined Bland during her press conference and expressed support were Senators Rita Days, D-St. Louis County and Joan Bray, D-St. Louis County.
Sen. Joan Bray, D-St. Louis County, called the Republican proposed cuts to family planning "mean and cynical", and said that the cuts would backfire as an attempt to reduce the number of abortions in Missouri, as less counseling services would actually result in more abortions. She also cited data from the state budget office showing that the cuts would jeopardize health care for nearly 60,000 women statewide.
"This is a crazy way of doing business," said Sen. Joan Bray, D-St. Louis County, "I don't disagree with government reigns on spending and maybe even on revenue, but Hancock is too restricting. Sen. Jacob's proposal might be a solution."
As part of that effort, Sen. Joan Bray, D-St. Louis County, has introduced a bill that would harmonize Missouri's state and local tax laws with those in other states. Among other things, Bray's bill would change Missouri law so that sales tax would be collected based on the state where the buyer accepts delivery of the product.
With state government in a fiscal crisis, taxing e-business would provide an answer. A bill introduced by Sen. Joan Bray would move Missouri one step closer to that end.