Jetton Stocking Up His Business With Campaign Contributor Funds?
GOP House Speaker Rod Jetton is term-limited and therefore cannot seek re-election next fall. But you'd never know it from his most recent Missouri Ethics Commission filing, which reads like the report from a burgeoning young campaign that's just getting its feet underneath it and its office set up.
The following expenditures certainly seem out of place for a campaign that's run its last race.
| Staples 2500 Missouri Blvd Jefferson City, MO 65109-4704 |
04/02/2007 | External Drive & Office S 0 |
$543.93 Paid |
| Staples 2500 Missouri Blvd Jefferson City, MO 65109-4704 |
06/29/2007 | Mouse and Envelopes 0 |
$118.49 Paid |
| Office Depot 6263 S Lindbergh Blvd Saint Louis, MO 63123-7801 |
06/29/2007 | Software 0 |
$200.63 Paid |
| Office Depot 6263 S Lindbergh Blvd Saint Louis, MO 63123-7801 |
06/29/2007 | Computer 0 |
$757.72 Paid |
| Buy.Com 20918 Bake Pkwy Ste 102 Lake Forest, CA 92630-2173 |
04/05/2007 | Software 0 |
$315.35 Paid |
| Best Buy 178 Thf Blvd Chesterfield, MO 63005-1141 |
04/03/2007 | Computer 0 |
$2,572.45 Paid |
That's $4,508.57 spent on new computers, computer accessories and software by the committee of a campaign that'll never churn out another phone sheet, walk list, or volunteer solicitation email. And that doesn't count another $151.39 spent on ink cartridges, toner, and a wireless internet setup.
While these don't strike me as the purchases of a campaign organization that's winding down, they do seem like the sort of items that, say, a startup political consulting firm might buy.
What is it that Jetton plans on doing when he leaves the legislature? Oh yeah.
Not to worry though. I'm sure a straight arrow like Rod would never dream of converting campaign funds to personal use.
*H/t to original tipster KG.
