Lately as a public service, Rep. Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin, has been explaining legislation that was passed during the 2006 session.
In this week's column, which I just read in the Newton County News, she explained HB 1900, the so-called "Ethics Reform Bill."
She explained each part of the bill thoroughly so her constituents could understand it. According to Ms. Ruestman, the bill calls for the following things:
1. Politicians, campaign committees and lobbyists will reveal where funding comes from and who it goes to. Lobbyists will include in their reports any money spent for staff, employees, spouses and children of elected officials.
2. (The law) requires out-of-state travel by lawmakers paid for by lobbyists to be pre-approved by the accounts committee.
3. (The law) prohibits fundraising during the legislative session
4. (The law) prohibits felons from running for office.
5. (The law) prohibits many legislative caucuses from receiving gifts from lobbyists.
6. (The law) holds those who file frivolous complaints with the state ethics commission accountable.
7. (The law) requires the ethics commission to post third party expenditures supporting or opposing a candidate for office on its website.
8. Oh, wait a minute. There is no number eight. Apparently, Ms. Ruestman does not think her constituents need to know that the bill removes all limits on campaign contributions.
Quite possibly she is aware that a strong majority of her constituents voted for campaign contribution limits 12 years ago and are not happy about the self-serving vote by Missouri legislators to pad their campaign war chests.
If our newspapers are going to continue publishing these political columns, even when the candidates have opposition, the least they can do is demand the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
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