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Democrats block weak workplace discrimination bill in the State Senate

A group of Democratic State Senators is blocking a bill that would redefine Missouri’s workplace discrimination standards.  They believe the bill will undo nearly a half-century of civil rights progress.

Among those blocking the bill are Robin Wright-Jones and Maria Chappelle-Nadal from the St. Louis area.  As part of the filibuster, they talked about several other topics besides the discrimination bill, including America’s immigration policies:

“Well you know what I think about immigration, what we’re doing with immigration?  I think it’s Jim Crow with a sombrero!” said Jones, "I think it’s Jim Crow with a sombrero, that’s what I think.”

The bill would require that discrimination be a motivating factor, not a contributing factor, in any action taken against an employee.  Supporters say it would curb the number of frivolous lawsuits in Missouri. 

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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