Clean Missouri petition will give voters a chance to pass ethics reform | The Kansas City Star
Missourians are a major step closer to more ethical and transparent government.
On Thursday, a group called Clean Missouri turned in more than 340,000 petition signatures calling for a referendum on ethics reform.
If enough signatures are valid — a highly likely prospect — voters will be able to embed important ethics changes in the state’s constitution this year.
The vote can’t come soon enough. As recent events have shown, Missouri is one of the most unethical states in the union. And lawmakers have shown little willingness to address the problem.
These reforms are essential. The revolving door between the floors of the General Assembly and lobbying jobs turns constantly.
Former Senate President pro tem Tom Dempsey is a registered lobbyist, as are former House Speakers Carl Bearden and Steve Tilley. So are former lawmakers Noel Torpey, Chris Molendorp, Jeff Grisamore, Shannon Cooper and others.
