Ethics reform a big topic in session's opening day

The speaker of the house formed a special committee to address recent concerns.

By Will Guldin

Published Jan. 7, 2010

As the Missouri legislature went into session Wednesday, former House Rep. T.D. El-Amin, a Democrat, was missing from the floor. El-Amin was not in attendance because he was being sentenced in a federal court to 18 months of prison on charges of bribery.

This sentencing was the latest in a series of ethics violations by some Missouri lawmakers, including a scandal involving former State Sen. Jeff Smith. The impact of those scandals was not lost in the session’s opening day, and ethics reform promises to figure prominently in the coming months.

In his opening address, Speaker of the House Ron Richard, R-Joplin, outlined a special committee on ethics he created.

Richard said he would support any recommendation that comes out of the bipartisan committee, led by chairman and fellow Rep. Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho.

“Regardless of party affiliation we can all agree that the sanctity of this body is important,” Richard said. “From this point forward we commit ourselves to gain and hold the faith the people of Missouri have in their elected representatives.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, also spoke on ethics, according to a copy of his speech obtained by The Maneater. He said a way must be found to ban contributions from lobbyists.

“We must strive for higher ethics standards, because ethics violations are unacceptable,” Shields said. “They are unacceptable legally, morally and most of all, because they can destroy the public’s trust in our democratic process. And without their trust, democracy fails.”

During the majority caucus news conference, Richard was asked if he would support a ban against contributions to lobbyists. He said he would support what the special ethics committee suggested.

Rep. Paul LeVota, D-Jackson, said in the minority caucus news conference, reform has to be tied to limiting campaign financing contributions.

“The fact that you have unlimited campaign donation up to a $100,000 — it just is the wrong message to send to the people of Missouri who want limits,” he said. “And I think if were really going to be saying that we want comprehensive reform we have to include that.”

LeVota said he believes comprehensive ethics reform has to include the reinstating of campaign finance limits.

In 2008, Shields, who is currently serving his last year in the legislature, sponsored a bill to repeal those limits, which had been in place since 1994, when voters originally passed them. Wilson and Shields voted for this measure, and LeVota voted against it. Richard did not vote on the final bill.

In addition to those goals, Rep. Steven Tilley, R-Perryville, said a letter writing campaign to federal lawmakers was on the table.

“A lot of our members have a lot of concerns on some of the things that are going on in D.C.,” he said. “And for that matter, a lot of Missouri citizens have concerns with whats going on. And so I think its important as representatives of the citizens of the state that we let D.C. know what our constituents think.”