Senator Jill Schupp Seeks to Enhance Missouri Lawmakers’ Ethical Standards

JEFFERSON CITY —Sen. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, today pre-filed two pieces of legislation that take aim at Missouri’s inadequate ethics standards related to lawmakers and elections.

“Missourians need to be assured that their voice matters. They’re looking for ethical, accountable legislators who will put the needs of people first—not the interests of billionaires or corporations who will try to buy elections. And under our current lax regulations, this simply doesn’t happen,” Schupp said. “Enacting common sense ethics reforms for politicians will reign in corruption and give more Missourians the ability to meaningfully participate in elections and state government.”

Sen. Schupp’s first ethics-related bill seeks to end the undue influence of high paid lobbyists by closing the revolving door between the legislature and lobbyists. The bill would ban elected officials from registering, acting or serving as lobbyists until one complete regular session of General Assembly after their resignation has concluded.

The legislation would also impose campaign contribution limits made by, or accepted from, any person other than the candidate him/herself in a given election. In addition, the bill would add a political party committee contribution limits made by a single contributor in a calendar year.

The second piece of pre-filed legislation submitted by Sen. Schupp today would increase reporting requirements for political action committees (PACs) and other groups categorized as 501(c)(4) organizations. It would require such groups who are involved with electioneering activities to file electronic spending reports with the Missouri Ethics Commission.  All of the disclosures would be public record.

Pre-filing of bills will remain open until the legislative session begins on January 6, 2015.

For more information on Sen. Schupp’s legislation, visit her official Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/schupp.