Gaming Commission member donated $25,000 to Blunt campaign

Considering the controversy surrounding Neosho banker Rudy Farber's $50,000 donation to Governor Matt Blunt's campaign, which came just two weeks prior to Blunt appointing him to the State Highway Commission, it should be recalled that this is far from the first instance in which a key Blunt contributor has been appointed to a plum position.
Samuel Hais, who was appointed to the Missouri Gaming Commission last June, is a prime example. Hais, who contributed another $25,000 to Blunt, according to the April campaign disclosure reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission, came under fire after it was revealed in the June 9, 2006, Turner Report that he and his family had donated thousands of dollars to the governor's campaign:

Ethics Commission disclosure forms indicate that between Hais, his family, and his law firm, Hais, Hais & Kallen, the governor received at least $16,575 between 2003 and 2005.
In 2003, the Hais Group, as the law firm was called in the Ethics Commission documents, gave the maximum (at that time) $1,175. On June 23, 2003, Jamie Hais and Jessica Hais each contributed $1,175. Julie Molise, a lawyer at the Hais firm, donated $1,000, while on March 31, Jessica Hais was credited with an additional $150.
Even more money came from the Hais clan in 2004, when the Hais Group, Jamie Hais, Sam Hais, and Susan Hais all contributed the maximum $1,200 and Ms. Molise chipped in with $1,100.
The year 2005 began with Jessica Hais, student, contributing $1,200 on Jan. 20. The remainder of the Hais money poured forth on March 20, according to the Ethics Commission documents.
On that day, Jamie Hais, student, St. Louis, contributed $1,200; Samuel Hais contributed $200, Susan Hais, inexplicably referred to as "homemaker," even though the Hais firm's website indicates she is the lawyer who started the firm, also gave $1,200, as did the law firm.
In the news release in which he announced Hais' appointment, Blunt said, "Sam Hais will make an excellent gaming commissioner who will provide the kind of oversight Missourians expect over this industry, He has an exceptional legal background which will serve him well in this position."

Hais also had contributed $45,000 to the governor's pet cause, the National Republican Governors' Association.