Zweifel pushes ethics reform at MHDC

Today, Treasurer Clint Zweifel called for a series of reforms to remove conflicts of interest for members of the Missouri Housing Development Commission.

Zweifel plans to present his full proposed ethics policies to a commission subcommittee on July 7. Zweifel said a strengthened standards of conduct policy would include meaningful and enforceable rules, including

• Commissioners and staff should have no personal financial relationships with anyone receiving benefits from MHDC. If that were the case, the commissioner or staff member should notify the entire commission in public meeting prior to any discussion and then recuse himself or herself from any vote at a minimum.
• Entities applying to do work for or receiving funding from MHDC would be expected to disclose all of their business relationships to MHDC.
• Entities applying to do work for or receiving funding from MHDC would not employ a former commissioner or employee for a period of time following the termination of the commissioner's or the employee's official relationship with the agency.
• Possible enforcement mechanisms could include applicants being banned from applying for MHDC benefits.

For more:

• Official press release
• KC Star: "Zweifel: Ethics policy for MHDC is top priority"
• Post-Dispatch: "Clint Zweifel seeks ethics policy for housing commission"
• Daily Tribune: Treasurer strict on housing panel policies
• Capitol Calling:  (with video)