During the last week of session, The Missouri Times will be bringing you hourly updates of all floor activity of each chamber. Below is all the floor activity for the Senate.
May 15, 2015
3:14 PM
The Senate is in Session:
Approval of Conference Committee Reports: CCR for SB 210: This is the FRA bill that will pump $3.5 billion in federal funds to Medicaid. The bill has broad support and received unanimous approval after it spent much of this week being filibustered by Democrats in retaliation for Republicans ending debate on Right-to-Work legislation.
- With a vote of 30-0, the bill was approved and sent back to the House, who are expected to bring it up quickly and pass the measure.
- The Senate is adjourned until a technical session on May 27, then adjourned sine die.
12:00 PM
The Senate is in Session:
The Senate is currently reading the journal of yesterday’s business. While Democrats have promised to stop any business from coming to a vote over Republicans pushing Right-to-Work legislation, rumors swirl that a deal is in the works to approve a single piece of legislation reauthorizing the state’s Federal Reimbursement Allowance for Medicaid, worth more than $3 billion in funds for the program.
- Sen. Chappelle-Nadal took the floor to urge both Republicans and Democrats to end the filibuster and take up legislation from the House that raises the standards for police in Missouri for using deadly force. Chappelle-Nadal is personally very supportive of the bill Chappelle-Nadal was openly critical of some of her fellow members.
11:00 PM
The Senate is in Session:
The senate is currently reading the journal of yesterday’s business. While Democrats have promised to stop any business from coming to a vote over Republicans pushing Right-to-Work legislation, rumors swirl that a deal is in the works to approve a single piece of legislation reauthorizing the state’s Federal Reimbursement Allowance for Medicaid, worth more than $3 billion in funds for the program.
May 14, 2015
11:00 PM
The Senate is in Session:
The Missouri Senate is currently reading the journal of yesterday’s business, per Democrats move to slow down the business of the body in retaliation for Republicans PQ’ing Right-to-Work legislation earlier this week. Democrats are expected to filibuster for the remainder of the day.
May 13, 2015
5:00 PM
The Senate is adjourned under the rules.
4:00 PM
Senate Bills for Third Reading:
Senate Bill 210 — This act extends the sunsets from September 30, 2015, to September 30, 2016, for the Ground Ambulance, Nursing Facility, Medicaid Managed Care Organization, Hospital, Pharmacy, and Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded Reimbursement Allowance Taxes. This provision is similar to SB 167 (2015).
This act also prohibits MO HealthNet from recovering Disproportionate Share Hospital audit recoupments from any Tier I safety net hospital, excluding Department of Mental Health psychiatric hospitals, which used an intergovernmental transfer for its share of Disproportionate Share Hospital payments. This provision expires September 30, 2022.
- This bill reauthorizes Missouri’s Federal Reimbursement Allowance, pumping roughly $3 billion into Missouri’s Medicaid program.
- The bill has wide bipartisan support, but Democrats have promised since last week not to allow a vote on the issue in retaliation for what they called the “partisan PQ” motion that ended debate on controversial Right-to-Work legislation.
- Senators Schupp and Walsh are currently holding the floor to maintain the Democrat’s filibuster of the FRA.
3:00 PM
Senate Bills for Third Reading:
Senate Bill 210 — This act extends the sunsets from September 30, 2015, to September 30, 2016, for the Ground Ambulance, Nursing Facility, Medicaid Managed Care Organization, Hospital, Pharmacy, and Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded Reimbursement Allowance Taxes. This provision is similar to SB 167 (2015).
This act also prohibits MO HealthNet from recovering Disproportionate Share Hospital audit recoupments from any Tier I safety net hospital, excluding Department of Mental Health psychiatric hospitals, which used an intergovernmental transfer for its share of Disproportionate Share Hospital payments. This provision expires September 30, 2022.
- This bill reauthorizes Missouri’s Federal Reimbursement Allowance, pumping roughly $3 billion into Missouri’s Medicaid program.
- The bill has wide bipartisan support, but Democrats have promised since last week not to allow a vote on the issue in retaliation for what they called the “partisan PQ” motion that ended debate on controversial Right-to-Work legislation.
- Now several hours in, Sen. Sifton and Sen. LeVota continue to filibuster the bill.
2:00 PM
Senate Bills for Third Reading:
Senate Bill 210 — This act extends the sunsets from September 30, 2015, to September 30, 2016, for the Ground Ambulance, Nursing Facility, Medicaid Managed Care Organization, Hospital, Pharmacy, and Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded Reimbursement Allowance Taxes. This provision is similar to SB 167 (2015).
This act also prohibits MO HealthNet from recovering Disproportionate Share Hospital audit recoupments from any Tier I safety net hospital, excluding Department of Mental Health psychiatric hospitals, which used an intergovernmental transfer for its share of Disproportionate Share Hospital payments. This provision expires September 30, 2022.
- This bill reauthorizes Missouri’s Federal Reimbursement Allowance, pumping roughly $3 billion into Missouri’s Medicaid program.
- The bill has wide bipartisan support, but Democrats have promised since last week not to allow a vote on the issue in retaliation for what they called the “partisan PQ” motion that ended debate on controversial Right-to-Work legislation.
- Now several hours in, Sen. Sifton and Sen. LeVota continue to filibuster the bill.
1:00 PM
Senate Bills for Third Reading:
Senate Bill 210 — This act extends the sunsets from September 30, 2015, to September 30, 2016, for the Ground Ambulance, Nursing Facility, Medicaid Managed Care Organization, Hospital, Pharmacy, and Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded Reimbursement Allowance Taxes. This provision is similar to SB 167 (2015).
This act also prohibits MO HealthNet from recovering Disproportionate Share Hospital audit recoupments from any Tier I safety net hospital, excluding Department of Mental Health psychiatric hospitals, which used an intergovernmental transfer for its share of Disproportionate Share Hospital payments. This provision expires September 30, 2022.
- This bill reauthorizes Missouri’s Federal Reimbursement Allowance, pumping roughly $3 billion into Missouri’s Medicaid program.
- The bill has wide bipartisan support, but Democrats have promised since last week not to allow a vote on the issue in retaliation for what they called the “partisan PQ” motion that ended debate on controversial Right-to-Work legislation.
- Sen. Sifton has been the primary speaker thus far, holding the floor and speaking at times passionately against Republican’s PQ’ing RTW and then forcing the FRA bill to the floor.
12:00 PM
Senate Bills for Third Reading:
Senate Bill 210 — This act extends the sunsets from September 30, 2015, to September 30, 2016, for the Ground Ambulance, Nursing Facility, Medicaid Managed Care Organization, Hospital, Pharmacy, and Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded Reimbursement Allowance Taxes. This provision is similar to SB 167 (2015).
This act also prohibits MO HealthNet from recovering Disproportionate Share Hospital audit recoupments from any Tier I safety net hospital, excluding Department of Mental Health psychiatric hospitals, which used an intergovernmental transfer for its share of Disproportionate Share Hospital payments. This provision expires September 30, 2022.
- This bill reauthorizes Missouri’s Federal Reimbursement Allowance, pumping roughly $3 billion into Missouri’s Medicaid program.
- The bill has wide bipartisan support, but Democrats have promised since last week not to allow a vote on the issue in retaliation for what they called the “partisan PQ” motion that ended debate on controversial Right-to-Work legislation.
- Sen. Sifton has been the primary speaker thus far, holding the floor and speaking at times passionately against Republican’s PQ’ing RTW and then forcing the FRA bill to the floor.
11:00 PM
Reading of The Journal
Democrats, following their threat to shut down business in the Senate if Republicans use a PQ on Right-to-Work, immediately challenged the opening motion to waive the reading of yesterday’s journal. Democrats took the floor and, in a deliberately slow fashion, began discussing the journal at length. Sen. Richard ultimately moved to simply have the entire journal read, ending their discussion. Senate Democrats are expected to continue obstructing as much business as possible.
May 12, 2015
7:00 PM
House Bills for Third Reading
House Bill 116 — Employers are barred from requiring employees to become or refrain from becoming a member of a labor organization or pay dues or other charges required of labor organization members as a condition of employment. Employers who do so commit a Class C misdemeanor. Prosecuting attorneys and the Attorney General are charged with investigating complaints.
- After a series of PQ votes, some of which were delayed significantly due to procedural issues, the senate advanced RTW by 21-13, sending the bill to the House for final approval.
6:00 PM
House Bills for Third Reading
House Bill 116 — Employers are barred from requiring employees to become or refrain from becoming a member of a labor organization or pay dues or other charges required of labor organization members as a condition of employment. Employers who do so commit a Class C misdemeanor. Prosecuting attorneys and the Attorney General are charged with investigating complaints.
- Still on this bill and expected to remain on it for a lengthy filibuster.
- Sen. Sifton continues to hold the floor as dozens of House members gather in the chamber. Rumors swirl that a PQ is approaching.
5:00 pm
House Bills for Third Reading
House Bill 116 — Employers are barred from requiring employees to become or refrain from becoming a member of a labor organization or pay dues or other charges required of labor organization members as a condition of employment. Employers who do so commit a Class C misdemeanor. Prosecuting attorneys and the Attorney General are charged with investigating complaints.
- Still on this bill and expected to remain on it for a lengthy filibuster.
- For a lengthy diatribe, Democrat Sen. Chappelle-Nadal spoke on the floor about the history of racism in some unions, like the AFL-CIO. Chappelle-Nadal still said she was opposed to Right-to-Work.
4:00 PM
House Bills for Third Reading
House Bill 116 — Employers are barred from requiring employees to become or refrain from becoming a member of a labor organization or pay dues or other charges required of labor organization members as a condition of employment. Employers who do so commit a Class C misdemeanor. Prosecuting attorneys and the Attorney General are charged with investigating complaints.
- Still on this bill and expected to remain on it for a lengthy filibuster.
3:00 PM
House Bills for Third Reading
House Bill 116 — Employers are barred from requiring employees to become or refrain from becoming a member of a labor organization or pay dues or other charges required of labor organization members as a condition of employment. Employers who do so commit a Class C misdemeanor. Prosecuting attorneys and the Attorney General are charged with investigating complaints.
- Still on this bill and expected to remain on it for a lengthy filibuster.
Highlights from the debate: “This bill will lower wages for employees across this state.” – Sen. LeVota, a Democrat.
2:00 PM
House Bills for Third Reading
House Bill 116 — Employers are barred from requiring employees to become or refrain from becoming a member of a labor organization or pay dues or other charges required of labor organization members as a condition of employment. Employers who do so commit a Class C misdemeanor. Prosecuting attorneys and the Attorney General are charged with investigating complaints.
- Still on this bill and expected to remain on it for a lengthy filibuster.
Highlights from debate: “This country was built on organized labor, by organized labor. This is about dismantling unions as we know it.” – Sen. Nasheed, a Democrat.
1:00 PM
House Bills for Third Reading
House Bill 116 — Employers are barred from requiring employees to become or refrain from becoming a member of a labor organization or pay dues or other charges required of labor organization members as a condition of employment. Employers who do so commit a Class C misdemeanor. Prosecuting attorneys and the Attorney General are charged with investigating complaints.
- Still on this bill and expected to remain on it for a lengthy filibuster.
Highlights from the debate: “If what unions do is so great, then I would want to be joining one….It’s been a shown fact that states that have this type of legislation are attracting more business than Missouri is.” – Sen. Sater, a Republican in favor of RTW.
“A vote for Right-to-Work is a vote to destabilize families.” – Sen. Holsman, A Democrat opposed.
12:00 PM
House Bills for Third Reading
House Bill 116 — Employers are barred from requiring employees to become or refrain from becoming a member of a labor organization or pay dues or other charges required of labor organization members as a condition of employment. Employers who do so commit a Class C misdemeanor. Prosecuting attorneys and the Attorney General are charged with investigating complaints.
- Still on this bill and expected to remain on it for a lengthy filibuster, Senate Democrats are continuing to oppose this Right-to-Work bill, which Sen. Brown also amended to add paycheck protection language.
Highlights from the debate: “I cannot support this bill. I just don’t buy that companies are concerned with what’s going on with 8 percent of our workforce in our state.” – Sen. Silvey, Republican.
“This is a waste of time, this effort to destroy our workers.” – Sen. Holsman.
11:00 AM
House Bills for Third Reading
House Bill 116 — Employers are barred from requiring employees to become or refrain from becoming a member of a labor organization or pay dues or other charges required of labor organization members as a condition of employment. Employers who do so commit a Class C misdemeanor. Prosecuting attorneys and the Attorney General are charged with investigating complaints.
- Sen. Brown has offered an amendment adding paycheck protection to the bill as well.
- Senators Sifton and Walsh, both Democrats, have taken the floor, and have begun the likely long filibuster process.
Highlights from debate: “If it’s a good thing to minimize collective bargaining rights, why do you want to deny that to the people who keep our homes and streets safe of that?” – Sifton, on paycheck protection.
“The purpose of this bill is to reduce the wages of Missouri workers so businesses can make more money.” – Sen. LeVota.
May 11, 2015
The Senate is in recess until 6:30 pm.
After entering bills into the journal, the Senate is in recess until 10 A.M., May 12.
Collin Reischman was the Managing Editor for The Missouri Times, and a graduate of Webster University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
