JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Seven House Democrats filed seven “anti-corruption” bills with the hopes of reforming the culture in Jefferson City, one of the stated goals of Republican Gov.-elect Eric Greitens’ campaign.
Led by House Minority Whip Kip Kendrick, D-Columbia, the seven bills call for some aggressive policy changes in order to reform what are still seen by many as lax ethics laws in the state. A full, no-exception ban on lobbyist gifts, a prohibition on in-session campaign contributions by and for lawmakers, an extension of prosecutorial authority to the Missouri Ethics Commission, and the imposition of term limits on all statewide offices are among the changes the minority party will attempt to pass this session.
Republican Rep. Justin Alferman, R-Hermann, has also filed a bill to ban lobbyist gifts.
Kendrick said that while he has yet to meet with Greitens, undoubtedly due to the governor-elect’s busy schedule with the transition, he believed Missouri’s new head of state would respond to these bills, especially since many of the policies were touted by Greitens during the gubernatorial election.
“Eric Greitens was elected to office with a campaign focused on rooting out corruption in our Capitol,” Kendrick said in a statement. “Missourians have every right to demand immediate action, and I intend to make sure that Governor-elect Greitens can deliver on his promise… It’s time for aggressive ethics reform, and Democrats stand with the governor-elect and his pre-election platform to get this done.
“There is a clear mandate to drain the swamp.”
Many of the bills come from newly-elected representatives like Rep-elects. Bruce Franks, Crystal Quade and Mark Ellebracht, and this effort also signals one of Kendrick’s first major moves as a member of Democratic leadership.
A full list of the bills and their offers can be read below:
- Banning all lobbyist gifts with no exceptions, HB 212 filed by Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood
- Closing the revolving door from legislator to lobbyist, HB 213 filed by Rep. Joe Adams, D-University City
- Banning the use of campaign committee funds for services provided by candidate family members, HB 214 filed by Rep. Tracy McCreery, D-Olivette
- Preventing persons no longer actively seeking elective office from maintaining a candidate committee, HB 215 filed by Rep.-elect Mark Ellebracht, D-Liberty
- Extending prosecutorial authority to the Missouri Ethics Commission, HB 216 filed by Rep.-elect Crystal Quade, D-Springfield
- Prohibiting in-session campaign contributions to and solicitations by legislators and statewide office holders, HJR 6 filed by Rep.-elect Bruce Franks, D-St. Louis
- Imposing term limits for state office holders, HJR 7 filed by Rep. Kip Kendrick, D-Columbia
