Nixon outlines "four pillars" of ethics reform

In a conference call with reporters across Missouri, Nixon, a Democrat, outlined what he calls "four pillars of ethics reform" that he wants lawmakers to enact when they return to work next week. Along with new restraints on campaign contributions, Nixon called for the Missouri Legislature to prohibit its members from employing other lawmakers as campaign consultants and make lawmakers wait for an unspecified time after leaving office before accepting employment as lobbyists.

Pointing to recent scandals without naming any particular case, Nixon said the spectacle of lawmakers or former lawmakers standing in courtrooms facing criminal charges is undermining public confidence. Any meaningful new laws must promote transparent, accountable and responsive government, Nixon said.

Three St. Louis-area Democrats resigned from the legislature after pleading guilty to federal felonies. By announcing that he wants to end paid political consulting by sitting lawmakers, Nixon is targeting a practice that brought scrutiny to former Missouri House speaker Rod Jetton, who has his own legal troubles after being charged with assault in Scott County. And there have been media reports of a possible ongoing federal investigation into legislative actions.

Restoring limits on campaign contributions -- limits that were repealed in 2008 -- and limiting the movement of money between political committees were the two top items on Nixon's list.

"Missouri voters have spoken loudly and clearly that they want control over the influence of money in politics," Nixon said.

Missouri voters approved a ballot measure setting strict and low contribution limits in 1994. Those limits were revised to allow larger contributions, but the largest gift that could be made to the campaign of a statewide candidate was about $1,300 before the law was repealed. After the repeal, donations of $100,000 or more were made numerous times both to Nixon and his GOP opponent, former U.S. representative Kenny Hulshof.

To avoid those limits, contributors moved money through political party committees, which could give 10 times the amount of other donors. And political action committees have been used to accept large donations, then move the money on to additional PACs, party committees or candidates, obscuring the original donor.

In the news conference, Nixon called the repeal of donation limits a failure because contributors continue to use committees to mask the source of contributions.

When limits were repealed, he said, Republican leaders promised a more transparent system that would allow money to be tracked more easily.

"The Laundromats of committees that are operating out there are making it almost impossible for the public to know" where contributions originate, Nixon said.

Noting 14 lawmakers so far have filed ethics measures in advance of the legislative session, Nixon said many of those bills have merits and that he intends to work closely with both Republicans and Democrats to pass a tough bill.

Nixon's four major items mirror in part a proposal made two weeks ago by House Majority Leader Steve Tilley, R-Perryville. Tilley and Nixon both include the ban on lawmakers working as political consultants for their colleagues and a ban on lawmakers working as lobbyists for a set time after leaving office. Tilley wants the lobbying ban to last 180 days, while Nixon didn't specify a time period.

In response to Nixon's proposals, Tilley told the Associated Press he believes the repeal of contribution limits has made it easier to track where money is flowing and expressed little interest in revisiting it.

"We don't limit how much time someone can donate to a campaign, we don't limit how much of someone's talent you can donate to a campaign and so we shouldn't limit how much money," Tilley said.

Nixon said he's willing to listen to other ideas -- Tilley, for example, proposed banning contributions to a sitting governor's campaign from people or companies with pending business with the executive branch of government.

But Nixon said he's not willing to compromise on his core proposals. "These four pillars must be part of any comprehensive ethics reform package this year."

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Missouri State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO