BLUNT: REFORM IN ETHICS IS ADVOCATED

Missouri Secretary of State Roy Blunt said Monday he'd like to see ethics reform take a front seat in state government.

"I don't see anything wrong with shaking up the system," said Blunt, a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor, at a news conference Monday in Cape Girardeau.

He said setting new ethics standards among state lawmakers is a "top priority" in his campaign.

Calling his a "campaign of ideas," Blunt said he plans to issue a series of papers on state job training, public safety, health and the environment. But he said tougher ethics legislation is a major concern of voters.

"People are tired of politics as usual, tired of business as usual," he said. "I think we have an opportunity in the 1990s to come up with real solutions."

He called his proposals the "most comprehensive ethics package in state history."

Some of his proposals include:

Limiting political action committee contributions to no more than 10 percent of a candidate's total contributions.

A cap on campaign contributions from other sources, including a limit for individual contributions for candidates.

Review of all state business on non-bid contracts, and prohibiting state business from being awarded to a firm in which a legislator or elected official has more than a 10 percent interest.

Elimination of multiple campaign committees used to disguise or hide campaign contributions.

Amending ethics and finance laws to prohibit contributions from lobbyists to legislators.

Prohibiting lawmakers from receiving gifts worth more than $200 from any individual, group or business.

Requiring all state officials to file copies of their income tax returns with the state ethics commission.

Some of the proposals will need approval of the legislature or the state ethics committee, and Blunt said those will be the most difficult to enact.

Blunt, 42, said he is also in favor of term limitations for lawmakers and re-establishment of the presidential primary in Missouri.

Many of the ethics proposals are designed to "keep elected officials from lining the pockets of political contributors," the secretary of state said, adding that the growing connection between companies doing business with the state and campaign contributions is a disturbing trend.

"We must put an end to money moving through the revolving door of political paybacks and personal favors," he said.

Blunt said he wants to use his campaign as a guideline for ethics reform, and he would work for legislation that would force other politicians to do the same.

Blunt also described his ethics proposals Monday at news conferences in Jefferson City, Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield.