They call it an ethics bill, but the bill that passed through the Missouri Senate Wednesday has little to do with improving ethics and more to do with removing ethical limitations.
State Senator Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, and the rest of the Senate Republicans voted down an amendment sponsored by Sen. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, that would have required license fee agents to file reports showing any campaign contributions they might have made, and another amendment sponsored by Sen. Maida Coleman, D-St. Louis, that would have prohibited relatives of the governor from lobbying the governor's office. Governor Matt Blunt's brother, Andrew, and sister, Amy, are registered lobbyists.
One of the provisions of the bill is that lobbyists would no longer have to provide the Ethics Commission with a list of legislation that they supported or opposed.
The bill now goes to the House.