Issue Position: Ethical & Responsive Government

Issue Position

Our state government should be of the people, for the people, by the people. Increasingly, scandals have cast dark shadows over Missouri's Capitol and rightfully undermined the public's trust in their elected officials.

In an effort to make government more transparent and representative, I have:

-Voted for lobbyist gift bans. Before the recent passage of Clean Missouri, legislators could accept unlimited gifts for unlimited amounts. I voted in favor of complete bans of lobbyist gifts and offered amendments to close loopholes in proposed legislation. Undue influence -- even the perception of it -- hurts our institutions.

-Sponsored legislation that requires transparency for dark money organizations. Dark money organizations are not governed by the same campaign finance laws as candidates and campaigns. They can receive unlimited amounts of money, spend money in any way that they choose, and never have to disclose how the money is being spent. Dark money organizations can try to influence election outcomes, and voters are left uninformed. I sponsored legislation that would require disclosures of major contributors to these dark money groups.

-Held elected leaders accountable. We should hold high standards for office holders. When leaders do not meet those standards, it is time to hold them accountable.

-Supported Clean Missouri. In 2018, Missourians voted for a set of reforms to clean up state government, including limits on campaign contributions and reworking the redistricting process to prevent gerrymandering. I support Clean Missouri, and I have fought and continue to fight against misleading efforts to undermine its important reforms.

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