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Blunt vetoes lobbyist bills; completes bill signings
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By DAVID A. LIEB
Associated Press Writer
Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt vetoed bills Thursday that would have spared lobbyists from reporting their stances on issues, but also would have made it easier for people to review the campaign contributions of political committees.
The vetoes were the only two Blunt made as he finished signing into law 194 other nonbudget bills passed by the Legislature during its 2005 session.
Among the bills Blunt signed Thursday were ones making it easier for utilities to increase the rates they charge customers and another allowing new local taxes on cell phones in exchange for limiting taxes on traditional land-line phones.
The vetoed bills had been backed by the Missouri Ethics Commission, which enforces campaign finance laws, and had passed easily in both the House and Senate. Legislators had labeled the relaxed lobbyist requirements a consent bill, meaning it was supposed to be noncontroversial.
The bill would have repealed a requirement that lobbyists or their employers file Ethics Commission reports on March 15 and May 30 stating what bills or actions they supported or opposed.
Blunt said those reports were a valuable resource for the public and news media.
"It is important for citizens to be aware of the activities of well organized and well funded special interest groups and other entities," Blunt said in his veto letters to the Legislature.
The lobbyist provision also was included in a broader ethics bill that would have expanded the number of political committees required to file finance reports electronically and adjusted the dates when politicians must file personal financial disclosure reports. The ethics bill also was vetoed.
The governor's office had mistakenly stated on its Web site last week that Blunt signed the broader ethics bill; the bill number later was pulled from a list of signed measures. Still, officials at the Ethics Commission were surprised by the veto.
"We were just trying to clean things up," said Mike Reid, the Ethics Commission's director of compliance.
The lobbyist issue reports can be viewed only at the Ethics Commission office in Jefferson City - not on its Web site. Reid estimated that no more than 10 people looked at the reports over the past eight years. And he said there is no penalty for lobbyists who fail to file reports, or do so late.
"It just did not seem to be a report that had any meaning," especially since legislative committees keep their own lists of lobbyists who testify for and against bills, Reid said.
Sponsoring Rep. Bob May, R-Rolla, called the reports "largely useless." He said they aren't very specific and noted that lobbyists already list their clients on separate Ethics Commission reports, which are posted on the Internet.
Political candidates and committees also are required to file periodic reports on their contributions and expenditures. Current law requires electronic reports for permanent committees that make contributions of more than $15,000 a year, while others can file paper reports.
The vetoed bill would have lowered that threshold to $5,000, requiring an additional 155 political action committees and party committees to file electronic reports, said Joe Carroll, the Ethics Commissions' campaign finance director.
The public can more quickly and easily view electronically filed reports on the commission's Web site. Paper reports must be scanned into its computer system.
Missouri's campaign contribution limits are significantly higher for political party committees than for individuals or interest groups. Some people or groups sidestep the lower limits by giving large amounts to local political party committees, which in turn pass the money on to candidates. The Ethics Commission has upheld the practice, which was prevalent in last year's gubernatorial race.
The vetoed bill would have shed more public scrutiny on the practice, said House Minority Leader Jeff Harris, D-Columbia. He said Blunt should have signed the ethics bill, then asked legislators to correct the objectionable lobbyist provision.
"By vetoing it, these continuing committees are still going to be able to launder political contributions," Harris said, "and I don't think that's what Missourians deserve in their government. I think we need more transparency, more openness."
Blunt's siblings - Andy and Amy - both are registered lobbyists, and Andy has an extensive client list. Among the bills signed Thursday by Blunt was a bill backed by one of Andy Blunt's clients, SBC Missouri.
That bill makes it easier and faster for a local dialing area to be declared competitive by the state Public Service Commission, freeing existing telephone companies such as SBC from many state price restrictions and regulations.
Vetoed bills are HB524 and HB525.
On the Net:
Governor: http://www.gov.mo.gov
Legislature: http://www.moga.state.mo.us
The vetoes were the only two Blunt made as he finished signing into law 194 other nonbudget bills passed by the Legislature during its 2005 session.
Among the bills Blunt signed Thursday were ones making it easier for utilities to increase the rates they charge customers and another allowing new local taxes on cell phones in exchange for limiting taxes on traditional land-line phones.
The vetoed bills had been backed by the Missouri Ethics Commission, which enforces campaign finance laws, and had passed easily in both the House and Senate. Legislators had labeled the relaxed lobbyist requirements a consent bill, meaning it was supposed to be noncontroversial.
The bill would have repealed a requirement that lobbyists or their employers file Ethics Commission reports on March 15 and May 30 stating what bills or actions they supported or opposed.
Blunt said those reports were a valuable resource for the public and news media.
"It is important for citizens to be aware of the activities of well organized and well funded special interest groups and other entities," Blunt said in his veto letters to the Legislature.
The lobbyist provision also was included in a broader ethics bill that would have expanded the number of political committees required to file finance reports electronically and adjusted the dates when politicians must file personal financial disclosure reports. The ethics bill also was vetoed.
The governor's office had mistakenly stated on its Web site last week that Blunt signed the broader ethics bill; the bill number later was pulled from a list of signed measures. Still, officials at the Ethics Commission were surprised by the veto.
"We were just trying to clean things up," said Mike Reid, the Ethics Commission's director of compliance.
The lobbyist issue reports can be viewed only at the Ethics Commission office in Jefferson City - not on its Web site. Reid estimated that no more than 10 people looked at the reports over the past eight years. And he said there is no penalty for lobbyists who fail to file reports, or do so late.
"It just did not seem to be a report that had any meaning," especially since legislative committees keep their own lists of lobbyists who testify for and against bills, Reid said.
Sponsoring Rep. Bob May, R-Rolla, called the reports "largely useless." He said they aren't very specific and noted that lobbyists already list their clients on separate Ethics Commission reports, which are posted on the Internet.
Political candidates and committees also are required to file periodic reports on their contributions and expenditures. Current law requires electronic reports for permanent committees that make contributions of more than $15,000 a year, while others can file paper reports.
The vetoed bill would have lowered that threshold to $5,000, requiring an additional 155 political action committees and party committees to file electronic reports, said Joe Carroll, the Ethics Commissions' campaign finance director.
The public can more quickly and easily view electronically filed reports on the commission's Web site. Paper reports must be scanned into its computer system.
Missouri's campaign contribution limits are significantly higher for political party committees than for individuals or interest groups. Some people or groups sidestep the lower limits by giving large amounts to local political party committees, which in turn pass the money on to candidates. The Ethics Commission has upheld the practice, which was prevalent in last year's gubernatorial race.
The vetoed bill would have shed more public scrutiny on the practice, said House Minority Leader Jeff Harris, D-Columbia. He said Blunt should have signed the ethics bill, then asked legislators to correct the objectionable lobbyist provision.
"By vetoing it, these continuing committees are still going to be able to launder political contributions," Harris said, "and I don't think that's what Missourians deserve in their government. I think we need more transparency, more openness."
Blunt's siblings - Andy and Amy - both are registered lobbyists, and Andy has an extensive client list. Among the bills signed Thursday by Blunt was a bill backed by one of Andy Blunt's clients, SBC Missouri.
That bill makes it easier and faster for a local dialing area to be declared competitive by the state Public Service Commission, freeing existing telephone companies such as SBC from many state price restrictions and regulations.
Vetoed bills are HB524 and HB525.
On the Net:
Governor: http://www.gov.mo.gov
Legislature: http://www.moga.state.mo.us
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