Post-Dispatch editorial: Missouri ethics laws are not serious

The fallout continues from the Kansas City Star's series on corruption in the Missouri legislature. In an editorial today, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch claims Missouri ethics laws are not serious:

Speaker Richard, however, is concerned; he's now talking about legislation to "reinforce the seriousness" of ethics laws.

That would be fine if Missouri had serious laws. Here's a clue: If the House speaker can be a political consultant, your laws aren't serious. If lobbyists pay for your Christmas parties and your working dinners, your laws aren't serious.

The state needs tough new laws, including strict campaign contribution limits; a ban on using party committees to launder contributions and a state ethics commission with some real clout.

It's time to clean up Illinois politics, and not just in Illinois.