A faction of Missouri Senate Republicans held up a bill that sought to encourage investment in child care Tuesday evening, arguing the chamber should instead move on to GOP priorities.

The legislation, which would establish a tax credit program at an estimated expense of nearly $70 million annually, was part of negotiations on a separate bill that would roll back regulations on guns.

Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a public charity. It can be found at missouriindependent.com .