GOP TAKES HOWARD TO TASK: SENATOR'S REIMBURSEMENTS QUESTIONED

The Missouri Republican Party Monday accused state Sen. Jerry T. Howard of Dexter, Mo., of criminal financial wrongdoing and called for a state investigation of the Democrat's alleged activities.

Howard blasted the allegations as an election-year smear tactic. He planned to hold a press conference in Dexter today and provide documentation that he said will prove there were no improprieties.

"It is extremely unfortunate that the Republican Party, in an obviously politically motivated, desperate act, has chosen to make unsubstantiated and false allegations against my campaign and me personally," Howard said.

The Republican claims center on phone bills at Howard's Dexter office, which houses both his district Senate office and his re-election campaign. Party spokesman Daryl Duwe outlined the allegations during a press conference in front of the Cape Girardeau Federal Building.

"We believe Sen. Howard may be involved in an ongoing pattern of criminal activity," Duwe said. "He directs his campaign to pay bills -- some of them apparently personal -- then turns those same bills in to the state of Missouri for reimbursement and pockets those funds himself."

Duwe said state Republican Party staff spent several months doing some "serious digging" into Howard's financial and phone records. The party looked at records going back to 1997, he said.

According to the Republican findings, Howard's campaign paid for $8,960.28 in phone bills. Howard then asked for and received state reimbursement for $4,105.05 for those bills. Duwe said $1,638.25 of that reimbursement went directly to Howard, not his campaign.

"It's a pattern of double dipping that rips off Missouri taxpayers while benefiting Howard personally," Duwe said.

Duwe said the Republican Party would turn over its research to Attorney General Jay Nixon and ask him to pursue a felony charge for stealing, which is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Mary Still, a spokesperson for the attorney general, said Nixon's office had not received the information or any request for an investigation as of late Monday afternoon.

"I have no fear of any investigation," Howard said. "The fact that the Republican Party is taking such desperate steps so close to the November elections should be absolute proof to everyone of the politically driven nature of this attack."

Howard has served in the Missouri Senate since 1990, when he won a special election to fill the vacant 25th District seat. The district represents Butler, Dunklin, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Stoddard and Wayne counties.

He is challenged in his bid for a third full term by state Rep. Bill Foster, R-Poplar Bluff, in a closely watched race.

Democrats currently hold a one-seat majority in the 34-member Senate. Duwe acknowledged the state party is targeting Howard's seat in its bid to take over the General Assembly's upper chamber.

"Yes, this is a very, very close contest," Duwe said. "This Senate race is one of our reasons for doing the research, but criminal activity stands alone. My advice is for him to get a lawyer."

Howard called on Foster "to immediately demand that his Republican Party cronies stop these vicious and false attacks on my family and me."

Foster, who is leaving the House after seven years in office, said he was unaware his party had been investigating Howard and learned of the allegations only after they had been made.

"I don't know what it amounts to," Foster said. "They didn't tell me ahead of time."

Now that the allegations have been made, Foster said his party better have the proof to back them up.

Opposition research is a common tactic of political parties, Foster said. He said someone has been going through records pertaining to him in recent days at the Butler County Courthouse. However, he was quick to say he doesn't believe Howard is behind it.

"I guess this is routine for both parties to go through the paper trail," Foster said. "But I don't think the senator had any knowledge of this."

Foster pledged to refrain from mud slinging during the campaign.

"I personally want to keep this campaign about issues," Foster said. "I want to keep this campaign as clean as possible."

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