Politics

The Missouri House has approved legislation that could make it harder for employees to be shielded from retaliation by their employer for reporting wrongdoing in the workplace.

In an 86-66 vote Thursday, the House approved a measure that limits "whistleblower" status to employees who report or refuse to carry out illegal acts. The bill also caps the amount of punitive damages a person can recover if a company retaliates against the whistleblower.

The budget chairman for the Missouri House is not happy with the Senate’s decision early today (Wednesday) to restore 28 million dollars for blind pensions.  An amendment by GOP Senator Jim Lembke of St. Louis County reversed the cut that the House wanted to use for Higher Education.

The Missouri House has given first-round approval to legislation that would expand tax breaks for auto parts manufacturers.  Ford and General Motors already have access to the incentives. 

A Missouri Senate committee is considering legislation that would make CPR training a requirement for graduating from high schools.

Phone companies would have to help Missouri law enforcement agencies locate cellphone callers in emergency situations, under legislation moving through the state Senate.

The Missouri Legislature has given final approval to a bill that authorizes an additional $131 million of expenditures in the current budget.

The Missouri Senate passed a $24 billion state budget early Wednesday morning, following several hours of debate and closed-door negotiations.  The Senate reversed the House’s gutting of a pension program for the blind.