Nixon signs bill tightening loose ethics laws

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon on Thursday signed the first ethics bill to reach his desk since sexually charged scandals last year led two members of the Legislature to leave office and spurred a drive to tighten the state's loose laws on the conduct of lawmakers.

Nixon said the measure is a step in the right direction to strengthen ethics laws he called the "weakest in the nation."

The Democratic governor has pushed for reforms since he took office in 2009.

The new law bars members of the Legislature from being paid as political consultants by their colleagues or candidates for legislative offices. It also applies to statewide elected officials and takes effect at the end of August.

Nixon called the practice of paying fellow lawmakers for political consulting a "clear, unacceptable conflict of interest that compromises the integrity of the entire legislative process."

The measure is one of several aimed at cleaning up the Capitol's image and culture after the last legislative session ended in embarrassment.

John Diehl, the last GOP House speaker, stepped down on the final day of session last year and admitted to exchanging sexually suggestive text messages with an intern.

Months later, former state senator Paul LeVota resigned amid allegations he sexually harassed interns. LeVota, a Democrat, has denied the claims.

None of the bills moving forward in the Legislature would address the personal-conduct issues that plagued the Legislature last year.

But the departure of Diehl and LeVota in disgrace spurred momentum to make changes to ethics laws that had failed in the past.