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Legislators review re-worked workplace discrimination bill

A State House committee began a hearing Tuesday into a stripped-down version of the workplace discrimination bill.  Governor Jay Nixon vetoed the House version last month, so backers are now pushing a revised bill that will primarily focus on protecting whistleblowers. 

Republican House Member Kevin Elmer of Christian County says language that would redefine workplace discrimination as a motivating factor instead of a contributing one has been removed:

“We’re going to continue to discuss them, but obviously if you look at what the changes are that we’re doing, we’re kind of laying those aside for the time being,” Elmer said.

Democrats on the Workforce Development Committee still expressed opposition to the bill, one calling it a, quote, “solution in search of a problem.” 

The hearing was suspended and is set to resume next week.  The Governor’s office, meanwhile, has not yet commented on the revised measure.

Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.
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