Controversial Senate Figure Calls It Quits

A lightning rod figure in the State Senate has resigned. For about two weeks, questions have been raised about the relationship of the Chief of Staff of Senate President Protem Peter Kinder and the Chief of Staff’s ownership of a political consulting company that has received a lot of money from a Senate Republican campaign fund. Democrats had demanded a full Senate investigation of possible conflicts of interest. David Barklage says he does not want his job with pro tem Peter Kinder to stand in the way of Senate work. Barklage was paid $70,000 for his state job. Although he maintained ownership of the consulting company, he says he had taken no salary from it since going on the state payroll.