By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – The Missouri Senate has rejected an effort to transfer authority over the state's no call list from the Attorney General's office to the Public Service Commission.
The proposed transfer of authority was part of a larger proposal to add cell phones, fax lines and text messaging to the state's no-call list.
The sponsor, State Senator Kevin Engler (R, Farmington), says he had hoped transferring authority would have improved his bill's chances in the House, where it has died the past two sessions.
"We're hoping that they'll reconsider, because I think the people will be demanding this come election time, that we do something about the roto-calls," Engler said.
Engler also says House leaders oppose giving any expanded powers to current Attorney General and Democratic Candidate for Governor Jay Nixon.
But Senators from both parties voted to leave enforcement of the No-Call List in the hands of the Attorney General.
Among them was Senator and state treasurer candidate Brad Lager (R, Maryville).
"From my perspective, there hasn't been an outcry, nor have I seen a problem that would rise to the level of, 'We need to move this,'" Lager said.
The bill has been set aside and may not be taken up again before the end of the 2008 session.