MO Senate Ends Filibuster, Passes “Right to Work”
Date Posted: May 13, 2015
Posted In: News, Workforce,
From Missourinet: After an almost nine hour filibuster by Democrats, the Missouri Senate passed a so-called “right to work” bill Tuesday. The Senate’s version made some minor changes to the House version passed back in February. The bill has to go back to the House for its approval.
Democrats pulled out all of the stops to try and block a vote.The upper gallery of the Senate was filled, mainly with opponents of the measure. As a vote neared, the chamber also had members of the House of Representatives lining up to listen to debate.
“Right to Work” supporters and opponents crowded the Senate gallery.
“We’re not sitting down this time,” said Senator Jason Holsman (D-Kansas City). “This is not something that we believe can be mitigated, compromised, brought to a position. There are very few times on this floor where a Senator will make a declarative statement as such.”
Senator Ryan Silvey (R-Kansas City) said he can’t support the proposal because his district is heavily populated by union workers.
“I know it’s only Tuesday and I don’t know how long this debate is going to go this week,” said Silvey. “It would be a travesty to me to see this debate go four or five hours and then have a motion to cut it off.”
A motion to cut it off is what was made, though it took longer than four or five hours.