Catherine Hanaway

Here's an interesting nugget at the very end of a new AP story on the ethics legislation proposed for the upcoming session.

[Steve] Tilley, R-Perryville, said the legal problems and Democratic resignations from 2009 prompted House Republicans to ask a former U.S. attorney to speak during a December caucus meeting to remind them of what can and cannot be done.

"It's made all of us evaluate how you do business," Tilley said.

Justice Department lawyers wrapped up their case today against former John Ashcroft aide and Jack Abramoff associate Kevin Ring.

The case, which went to the jury this afternoon after four hours of closing arguments and three weeks of trial, explored relationships between Justice Department officials and Team Abramoff...

Rep. Kevin Wilson (R-Neosho): "Things are better than they used to be but if somebody is going to go rogue and do things like this they should be investigated and action should be taken."

We can reasonably infer from his statement that Wilson believed the pay-to-play situation to be bad at some point in the recent past.

He has served in the General Assembly since 2003.