Missouri House Democrats have filed about ten separate ethics bills, which they say will improve transparency.
House Minority Whip Kip Kendrick, D-Columbia, tells the Capitol Press Corps that he filed ethics legislation in 2017 that contained the main provisions that Governor Eric Greitens (R) campaigned on.
“And while the governor’s rhetoric of drain the swamp sounded sound, he failed to follow-through on many of his promises that he made during the campaign,” Kendrick says.
The Columbia Democrat says candidate Greitens promised to eliminate corruption and cronyism in Missouri government.
“And instead, it seems as if he’s engaged in a pattern and practice of activities meant to hide the true workings of his administration and campaign from the public,” says Kendrick.
Kendrick has filed legislation that would require what he describes as “dark money” organizations to report all expenditures made in support or opposition to a candidate or ballot measure.
Another Democratic proposal comes from State Rep. Joe Adams, D-University City, that would require a lawmaker who leaves office to wait two years before being able to register as a lobbyist.
Governor Greitens is expected to discuss ethics during Wednesday night’s State of the State Address in Jefferson City.
House Speaker Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, told Capitol reporters on opening day that he planned to send ethics legislation from State Rep. Justin Alferman, R-Hermann, to the Senate this week.
Missourinet will carry both Governor Greitens’ State of the State Address and the Democratic response from House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty, D-Kansas City, live on Wednesday evening.
Our live coverage starts at 6:45 p.m.