A watchdog group favoring campaign finance reform is criticizing what it sees as coziness between electric utility companies and some state lawmakers. The Missouri Alliance for Campaign Reform’s report on the link between the utility companies and legislators indicates the ties are strong and the power companies know how to spread their around their wealth. The Alliance claims money is targeted at lawmakers who can do the most good for the industry. It says during the last election cycle the average member of the House Utilities Regulation Committee got over 40 percent more than the average House member at large. The Alliance says this works against consumers and is more proof that campaign finance reform is badly needed.
