Tim Flook

KMBC's Micheal Mahoney: "Republican St. Rep. Will Kraus of Lee’s Summit says he was 'replaced' on an important committee for refusing to promise to vote for the Claycomo jobs bill. Rep. Kraus says he was asked today by the Economic Development and Jobs Creation Committee Chair Tim Flook to promise to vote for the bill. Kraus says he told Flook he couldn’t do that. Kraus says he wanted to listen to both sides in the committee hearing. Flook told him to go see House Speaker Ron Richard. Kraus says that was where he learned he was being 'replaced' on the committee. A statement for Speaker Ron Richard confirms the move."

Reps. Jason Kander (D-Kansas City) and Tim Flook (R-Liberty) met with the press at the Capitol this morning to talk about their bipartisan ethics reform bill, intended to limit the use of political committees to obscure campaign donation trails. Their multi-part proposal makes it a felony to "transfer funds through political committees with the intent of masking the original source of money, would prohibit individuals from serving as the treasurer or deputy treasurer of multiple committees, and create disclosure requirements for "de facto lobbyists." 

From the presser:

At the press conference, Flook indicated that Speaker Ron Richard is at least somewhat supportive of the effort, and Kander said Minority Leader Paul LeVota may become a co-sponsore.

More coverage can be found here and here.

Tim Flook will.

Here's what Flook said in response to news of the FBI pay-to-play investigation at the State Capitol:

“It’s the nature of political cycles that periodically the FBI comes in to check under the hood,” Flook said. “My feeling on it is, for the sake of system, I hope nothing comes of it.”

That sure is brave of Mr. Flook to stand up for the much-maligned "system". If there's anyone who needs a friend in Jefferson City right now, it's special interests with lots of money.

Generally speaking, I find any sort of system that "periodically" requires FBI involvement to be problematic, but that's just me.

For the sake of the system!