Democrats stall Missouri Senate after right-to-work vote

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Democrats are stalling action in the Missouri Senate after some Republicans forced a vote on a contentious right-to-work bill.

Democratic Sen. Scott Sifton of Affton said Wednesday he plans to filibuster until the session ends at 6 p.m. Friday.

The delay follows a rare procedural move by members of the Republican majority.

Some GOP senators on Tuesday forced a vote on a bill to prohibit union contracts with employers that allow fees for non-members.

Democrats spoke against that for hours as an attack on workers’ collective bargaining rights. Republicans eventually shut down debate to pass the measure 21-13.

Sifton called that a “nuclear option.” Democrats in response are delaying a vote on a measure that provides a significant chunk of Missouri’s Medicaid funding for medical providers.

This story was originally published May 13, 2015 at 12:36 PM with the headline "Democrats stall Missouri Senate after right-to-work vote."