Day care becomes the first major issue to clear the 1998 legislative session. Two of the governor's child-care proposals clear major hurdles in the legislature. The Senate approves the presidential primary bill. The governor's plan to deny some felons teaching licenses clears the Senate. The House Budget Committee clears desegregation legislation for House debate.
Lawmakers vote to force insurance companies to cover domestic violence damages.
The Senate sent the govenror Friday legislation that would restrict insurance companies from refusing coverage of domestic violence victims. The legislation includes an amendment added by the House to prohibit state funding for human cloning research and use of DNA information in insurance coverage decisions. The governor's compromise offer on child health is rejected by GOP Senators. Several Republican senators rejected Gov. Mel Carnahan's offer of a compromise to pass his child health program. Carnahan offered to implement by administrative rules restrictions that have been sought by Republicans, if the Republicans would allow an immediate final vote on the proposal to expand Medicaid coverage for kids of middle-income parents.