Blunt says lobbyist brother won't try to influence executive br

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Governor-elect Matt Blunt says his brother Andrew, a registered lobbyist, won't try to influence executive branch decisions. But he will continue lobbying the legislature.

"My brother never lobbied the secretary of state's office and my brother has been very clear that he's not going to lobby the executive branch of state government," Blunt said Tuesday.

Andrew Blunt, chairman of Matt Blunt's gubernatorial campaign, also has been tapped to chair the inauguration Jan. 10.

Andrew Blunt, 28, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he would change his lobbyist registration forms after the inauguration to reflect that he would attempt to influence actions of only the legislature.

When Matt Blunt takes office, Republicans will control both the executive and legislative branches of government.

A lawyer, Andrew Blunt has worked as a lobbyist, first registered Feb. 9, 2001, attempting to affect the course of legislation and executive decisions. The brothers are sons of U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, the third-ranking House Republican.

Andrew Blunt has represented more than a dozen special interests, including Philip Morris, SBC Missouri, Kraft Foods and the Missouri Hospital Association.

While those organizations may care about how the new governor considers certain issues, Andrew Blunt said he would not try to persuade his brother or any of his employees.

"Some people may have concerns about the family connections, about me personally lobbying the governor or the administration," Andrew Blunt said. "I volunteered not to do that."

But former Gov. Roger Wilson, chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party, said it will be difficult for the Blunt brothers to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest.

"I'm going to assume and I hope Andy and Matt are going to do things perfectly right," Wilson said. "But even then, they are not going to avoid speculation. It will make it tough on both of them."

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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com