Ron Richard Throws Tantrum, Declares Ethics Reform Bill Dead
Speaker Ron Richard has declared the bipartisan ethics reform bill dead because a bipartisan group of legislators demanded a floor debate on the proposal. Earlier today, 56 Democrats and 3 Republicans signed a petition to place the bipartisan bill -- legislation with campaign contribution limits -- on the House calendar. Last night, Republicans on the House Rules committee voted to block the legislation from heading to the floor, preferring a stripped-down proposal. The discharge petition is designed to circumvent the GOP leadership on the Rules Committee.
Tony Messenger has Richard's response:
Almost on cue, House Speaker Ron Richard has blamed Democrats for killing the ethics bill, by using a constitutional procedure to bring it to the floor. From a statement: “House Democrats have effectively killed the ethics bill in attempt to gain political headlines. I will leave political stunts out of the process and we will continue to work to pass meaningful ethics legislation this session.”
How ridiculous. The bill isn't dead because Democrats and Republicans demanded a debate on a real reform bill. But it may very well be dead if he keeps up his hissy fit and refuses to allow a debate and vote.
House Speaker Pro Tem Bryan Pratt said the petition essentially kills the bill.
Although the Republican leadership could bring the bill up, they won't, Pratt said, because lawmakers don't want to reward efforts to subvert the committee process.
"When you discharge a bill like this, they always die," he said.
But that doesn't mean ethics reform is dead, Pratt said.
'We're gonna make sure we can pass a very strong ethics reform bill despite what they've done," he said.
Pratt's view was echoed in a statement released by House Speaker Ron Richard, a Joplin Republican.
"House Democrats have effectively killed the ethics bill in attempt to gain political headlines," he said in the statement. "I will leave political stunts out of the process and we will continue to work to pass meaningful ethics legislation this session."
---------------------------------------
Don't forget that Ron Richard promised in January to support to "support any recommendation that comes out of" his the bipartisan ethics committee he created. The Maneater:
In his opening address, Speaker of the House Ron Richard, R-Joplin, outlined a special committee on ethics he created.
Richard said he would support any recommendation that comes out of the bipartisan committee, led by chairman and fellow Rep. Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho.
“Regardless of party affiliation we can all agree that the sanctity of this body is important,” Richard said. “From this point forward we commit ourselves to gain and hold the faith the people of Missouri have in their elected representatives.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, also spoke on ethics, according to a copy of his speech obtained by The Maneater. He said a way must be found to ban contributions from lobbyists.
“We must strive for higher ethics standards, because ethics violations are unacceptable,” Shields said. “They are unacceptable legally, morally and most of all, because they can destroy the public’s trust in our democratic process. And without their trust, democracy fails.”
During the majority caucus news conference, Richard was asked if he would support a ban against contributions to lobbyists. He said he would support what the special ethics committee suggested.
Alternatively, you may choose to remember that Ron Richard told reporters last April that he isn't actually interested in any ethics reform.
Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronrichard/4010952569/
