Democrats seek end of political patronage

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- House Democrats are renewing calls to end political patronage in the awarding of contracts to run state license bureaus amid growing controversy about some of Republican Gov. Matt Blunt's choices for the lucrative contracts.

As has long been the practice under governors of both parties, Blunt has awarded many of the contracts to his political supporters.

Last month, state Rep. Wayne Henke, D-Troy, filed a bill that would require the contracts to be awarded to not-for-profit groups, such as service clubs or school foundations. If no such group sought a contract for a given license office, individuals could seek them through a competitive bidding process.

"The reforms are long overdue," Henke said. "In the last 75 years, the state has eliminated patronage from every other contract process in the government except this one."

The bill has been stuck in limbo as House Speaker Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, hasn't assigned it to a committee.

"I don't see a big problem with the patronage system as far as the way it works, if it's done in a professional manner and above board with good business practices," Jetton said.

Public pressure, Jetton said, is sufficient to ensure the governor makes good choices in his appointments.

The Missouri Democratic Party has filed state and federal ethics complaints in regard to several Blunt appointees, including the wife of federal prosecutor Todd Graves and two employees of his brother, U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Tarkio.

The party claims assigning a contract to Todd Graves' wife creates a potential conflict of interest because Graves has jurisdiction to investigate claims of wrongdoing that may arise against the Blunt administration. The Democrats also contend the contracts given to Sam Graves' employees violate the Missouri Constitution's prohibition against federal workers holding "any office of profit" with the state.

Several other of Blunt's choices have also raised eyebrows, including his selection of Republican former state representative Tom Burcham to run the license office in Farmington. In a span of a few months in 2002, Burcham was twice charged with driving while intoxicated. His second arrest forced him to drop his bid for re-election.

"With respect to Tom Burcham, we believe that he has accepted responsibility for his past actions and is getting the help he needs to address his problem," said Blunt spokesman Spence Jackson.

Serious decisions

Blunt criticized last week's U.S. Supreme Court decision that declared the death penalty unconstitutional for murderers who were under age 18 when they committed their crimes. The court's 5-4 ruling came in the case of Christopher Simmons, whom a Cape Girardeau County jury convicted and sentenced for the 1993 murder of Shirley Crook.

"I agree with the Missouri judge and Missouri jury that thought it was appropriate to apply the ultimate penalty on a 17-year-old man who violently murdered a Missouri woman," Blunt said.

Blunt will soon have a life-or- death choice of his own to make as the scheduled March 16 execution date looms for Stanley L. Hall, who was convicted of murdering Barbara Jo Wood at a St. Louis County shopping mall in 1994.

Although he plans a thorough review of Hall's case, Blunt said it is likely he will defer to the jury's verdict.

Lawmaker health care

A Senate committee on Wednesday spiked a bill to eliminate taxpayer-funded health insurance for legislators. State Sen. Tim Green, D-St. Louis, filed the measure in response to Republican efforts to drastically reduce state health-care benefits for the poor.

"It is hypocritical for legislators to continue receiving taxpayer-subsidized health insurance while we cut thousands of people off from the only health insurance they have," Green said.

The committee rejected the bill on a 5-4 vote, with Republicans accounting for all the "no" votes. State Sen. Carl Vogel of Jefferson City was the only Republican voting in favor of the measure.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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