Although it has almost no chance of passing this legislative session - which must end by 6 p.m. May 15 - state Sen. Rob Schaaf asked a Senate committee Wednesday to support his "Missouri Anti-Corruption Amendment" and put it on next year's ballot so the people can vote on it.
"Many of them have lost faith in our political process, and they deserve the chance to get that back," Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, told the Government Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee. "I know that we've already voted on an ethics bill this session and, yes, that bill makes some improvements to Missouri's ethics laws - but it doesn't do nearly enough."
His solution is amending Missouri's Constitution to include strict ethics and campaign finance laws. Schaaf said his proposed amendment "would stop lawmakers from accepting lobbyists' gifts. It would require us to observe a cooling off period before accepting lobbyists' jobs.
"It would make political appointments more about merit.
"It would require full disclosure of all political spending (and) expand the role of small donors in elections."
He said it would strengthen the Ethics Commission to make sure ethics laws are enforced.
Three people, from different political and philosophical backgrounds, told the committee Schaaf's proposal is a good idea.
"Right now, I fear that the voices of ordinary Missourians are being drowned out by a small group of individuals and corporations - because they have the financial resources to play an outsized role and tilt the playing field in their favor," Sean Soendker Nicholson, executive director of Progress Missouri, told the committee. "I would say the evidence is pretty clear that we have a bipartisan problem," and Schaaf's proposal offers "a bipartisan solution."
Nicholson reminded the committee that Ethics Commission records show legislators take about $1 million in gifts every year.
"Some of those are reported as going directly to senators and representatives," he said. "(But) a disturbing portion of that amount is given to large caucuses and groups, so constituents and other members of the public don't know who's taking free meals, free tickets and other kinds of gifts."
Foster Speichinger, an intern with the group Populists In Action, said lawmakers should ask their constituents whether the lawmaker should let a lobbyist buy Cardinals tickets or a steak dinner, or let a political action committee or a special interest group "infuse thousands and thousands of dollars into my campaign? I can promise you that nine out of 10 would say, "No.'"
And John Pudner, executive director of the Take Back Our Republic group based in Auburn, Alabama, said lawmakers should support both campaign donation limits and a tax rebate for people who contribute "$50 to a candidate of a voter's choice."
Pudner said he's focused on grass roots, conservative campaigns. More and more, he said, "gone are the days of massive volunteer organizations, too often replaced by a few big money checks and television ads depicting support. ... It's a crisis for the American political system."
If lawmakers don't place his proposed amendment on the ballot, Schaaf told the News Tribune, he thinks his proposal could be used as the basis for an initiative petition campaign.