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End of session will lack drama, but not fireworks

It's the final day of the regular legislative session for the Missouri General Assembly.

Lawmakers have spent the past week clearing a backlog of bills that accumulated during a showdown over the state budget.

Last year at this time, the state House and Senate were deeply divided over tax credits, and a bill returning control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department back to the city of St. Louis had become a bargaining chip in the turf war.

This year, things have been more productive.

"We moved aggressively and early on worker's compensation, the employment discrimination bill," said Senate Republican floor leader Tom Dempsey. "We really did a much better job of planning and not leaving things until the last week. I like, as the Majority Leader, a boring week."

But a lack of drama won't mean a lack of fireworks, says House Republican leader Tim Jones. Both chambers will take up one of the year's most controversial measures.

"It's the pro-life bill for this year," Jones said. "Most folks are opposed to having insurance mandates of any kind on their health insurance plans, and this will allow folks to opt out for issues like contraception, sterilization, things like that."

Other issues that could see some floor time include the latest attempt to require photo ID at the polls and a public safety bill that includes a provision making it illegal to disrupt worship services.

The session ends at 6 pm tonight. Keep track of all of the day's action by following Marshall Griffin on Twitter - he's @MarshallGReport

Copyright 2021 St. Louis Public Radio. To see more, visit St. Louis Public Radio.

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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.
Marshall Griffin
St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He 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 an 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 Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.