Senators discuss whistle blower, impeachment bills
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Senators discuss whistle blower, impeachment bills

Date: February 3, 2014
By: Christina Turner
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
Missouri's Supreme Court could be stripped of its power to impeach politicians if the state Senate gets its way.
RunTime:  0:44
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Missouri tries impeachments in the state Supreme Court.

Constitutional Amendment sponsor Senator Ed Emery says most states follow federal government procedure, impeaching in the House and trying in the Senate.

Actuality:  EMERY2.WAV
Run Time:  00:06
Description: "There's no other state in the country that does impeachments like Missouri now does."

Missouri Bar Association President Jack Brady says the proposed change would open the floodgates to impeachments for vague offenses like "misconduct" and "willful neglect of duty".

Actuality:  BRADY1.WAV
Run Time:  00:09
Description: "It would politicize the impeachment process and it would allow impeachment for loosely defined offenses that can be subjectively interpreted."

The committee took no immediate action on the amendment.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Christina Turner.

Intro: 
Civilian whistle blowers might get fewer legal protections if the Missouri Senate gets its way.
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Wrap: Want to report your employer's legal violations?

You might not be protected if a proposed bill passes.

Bill sponsor Senator Brad Lager says the "whistle blower" umbrella is too wide.

Actuality:  LAGER2.WAV
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Description: "In order for there to be a whistle blower protection, there actually has to be a finding of something wrong happening."

Kansas City Attorney Lynne Bratcher says limiting whistle blower protections will make it harder for people to speak up.

Actuality:  BRATCHER.WAV
Run Time:  00:11
Description: "As a small business owner, I can tell you from my own experience. If someone is stealing from me, I want to know about, and I don't want someone to be deterred from coming forward."

The committee took no immediate action on the bill.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Christina Turner.