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Nixon Vetoes Act Revising Workplace Discrimination Laws

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-966554.mp3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On Friday (April 29, 2011), Governor Jay Nixon vetoed a bill that would modify the Human Rights Act, and make it harder for workers to sue for discrimination. He said that modifying the Human Rights Act would scale back protections that took decades to gain.

"Making it easier to discriminate against people with disabilities, or cancer, against women, older workers and minorities, against those of different faiths and ethnicities will not help us create jobs or become more competitive in a global economy," Nixon said.

Supporters of the legislation say it's one of several bills intended to make the legal climate in the state more business-friendly. Republicans and some business groups have argued the legislation would cut down on frivolous lawsuits.

To find out more about the bill, KCUR's Susan Wilson talked to Jo Mannies, political reporter for the St. Louis Beacon, a non-profit news site. They spoke on Thursday, before the bill was vetoed, about what changes it would bring.

Read the St. Louis Beacon's coverage of the bill:
Nixon expected to veto changes to state's anti-discrimination laws
So-called Enterprise bill would weaken protections for whistleblowers

This story was produced for KC Currents. To listen on your own schedule, subscribe to the KC Currents Podcast.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Susan admits that her “first love” was radio, being an avid listener since childhood. However, she spent much of her career in mental health, healthcare administration, and sports psychology (Susan holds a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Bloch School of Business at UMKC.) In the meantime, Wilson satisfied her journalistic cravings by doing public speaking, providing “expert” interviews for local television, and being a guest commentator/contributor to KPRS’s morning drive time show and the teen talk show “Generation Rap.”
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