Governor Nixon Calls State Ethics Laws A Disgrace

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon called the state’s ethics laws a disgrace in his last State of the State address. Nixon leaves office next year due to term limits. He pointed to big payments from donors to candidates, and gifts from lobbyists to lawmakers, as reasons for the perception there is undue influence on public officials. He implored the members of the Missouri Legislature to “pass a real campaign finance reform bill.” In the Republican response, House Speaker Todd Richardson criticized the governor for lack of leadership.