Greitens, who banned lobbyist gifts to state employees, accepts $20,000+ in lobbyist contributions

It's nowhere near as scandalous as allegedly blackmailing a mistress with compromising nude photos, but Gov. Eric Greitens' quarterly financial report filed today with the Missouri Ethics Commission, shows a heavy dose of old fashioned hypocrisy.

Greitens, who vowed to bring ethics to Jefferson City and made his first act as governor an order banning executive branch employees from accepting gifts from lobbyists, received more than $20,000 in campaign contributions from registered lobbyists, according to his quarterly financial statement filed today with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

You wouldn't know it by looking at the report. Not one of the lobbyists is listed as being in that profession. Some such as St. Louis lobbyist Franc Flotron are listed by the name of their firms, while others are "vice presidents of governmental affairs," "state affairs manager," "vice president of regulatory and government affairs," "government consultant," and "self-employed consultant."

All of them, however, are registered lobbyists, according to the Missouri Ethics Commission.

With the restored campaign contribution law limiting donors to $2,600 maximum, the lobbyists are back to their old tricks, including bundling contributions. For example, lobbyists for Ameren contributed $2,600, but brought in an additional $17,700 through contributions from 24 Ameren officials.