FiredUpMissouri.Com Exclusive: Former Blunt Aide Paid $50,000 for Veto Insurance Effort

FiredUpMissouri.com has learned that Rep. Roy Blunt's (R-K Street) crony, Gregg Hartley, was paid the princely sum of $50,000 for a single month's effort to prevent a veto by Rep. Blunt's son, Gov. Matt Blunt.

FiredUpMissouri.com has obtained a copy of the signed contract (opens in pdf) between the Missouri Association of Realtors and Cassidy & Associates, Hartley's DC firm.  The contract runs between June 16, 2005 and July 15, 2005, the last day for Gov. Blunt to sign or veto bills.

The contract specifies:

The nature of these objectives shall be working to ensure the enactment of HB-174.

The contract was signed by Hartley on June 15th and by the Realtors on June 16th.  The contract calls for the full $50,000 to be paid within 15 days of the execution of the contract.  Hartley's expenses are also to be covered under the contract.

Hartley's effort is meant to counteract the recommendation by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission that HB 174 be vetoed because they view the measure as anticompetitive.

According to the AP:

The Department of Justice's antitrust division and the Federal Trade Commission sent Blunt a joint letter in May urging him to veto the bill. They contend it could result in higher costs and fewer service options for people buying and selling homes.

According to the AP, Senators Jim Talent and Kit Bond have provided letters at Hartley's request.

Missouri Republican Sens. Kit Bond and Jim Talent sent a joint letter Wednesday to the FTC and Justice Department suggesting that the agencies' veto request "is inappropriate and an unwanted intrusion into the state legislative process."

For related Fired Up! stories, click here and here.