Blunt says no to lobbyists' gifts for those who work for him, but accepts them himself

In his news release announcing the appointment of Jefferson City attorney Michael Schmid to the Missouri Ethics Commission, Governor Matt Blunt touted his devotion to ethics reform:

Gov. Blunt has made ethics reform a priority in his office. In 2006, he became the first governor in Missouri history to ban gifts from lobbyists to any employee of the governor's office. In his State of the State address this year, Gov. Blunt urged the legislature to apply this ban on lobbyists’ gifts to the entire executive branch.

Apparently, that ban applies only to those who work for the governor and not for the governor himself. Ethics Commission records indicate lobbyist Mark J. Rhoads, representing the voice of the payday loan industry, Community Financial Services Association of America, bought a $22 lunch for Matt Blunt Jan. 10.

Though Blunt's ethic reforms started in 2006, according to the news release, he still accepted gifts from lobbyists on six occasions the following year, including a $120 meal from Mel Nicholson, representing SSM Health Care on Aug 21, 2007, and two meals from Daniel Mehan of Missouri Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 15 and Feb. 21, 2007.

A post on the pro-Democratic party blog Fired Up Missouri notes that Matt Blunt's latest Ethics Commission nominee, Schmid, is an attorney for brother Andrew Blunt's law firm of Schreiman, Rackers, Francka, and Blunt.

Schmid is also the attorney who is representing the Ozbun family in its battle to establish a CAFO operation right by Roaring River State Park.