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KINDER ABSENT ON ETHICS REFORM FOR MHDC
For Immediate Release: August 3, 2009 Contact: Ryan Hobart (573) 636-5241 Ext. 125 KINDER ABSENT ON ETHICS REFORM FOR MHDC Despite Two Years of Talks, Kinder Didn’t vote for Ethics Standards Jefferson City, Mo – Last Friday, Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder was the only member of the Missouri Housing Development Commission not to vote for strengthened ethics standards. In response, Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Brian Zuzenak released the following statement: “When Lieutenant Governor Kinder had an opportunity to do the right thing and vote for strengthened ethics standards, he instead tried to stall. After two years of tough talk, campaigning and promises of ethics reform, Lieutenant Governor Kinder still couldn’t bring himself to close loopholes that allowed conflicts of interest to go undisclosed. It shouldn’t shock Missourians that a person who has a history of close ties with developers displayed a lack of leadership by abstaining from this important vote.” The new ethics rules require commissioners to disclose potential financial conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from discussing, voting or making recommendations on related proposals. Also, applicants seeking to acquire MHDC resources must disclose all of their attorneys, consultants and other key advisers and employees. The new rules also ban commissioners and applicants from having business relationships, among other things. As a reason for why he wasn’t ready to vote on the proposal, he cited a two-week vacation and when talking about the new ethics rules said: “I am not sure they are completely the way we want them.” (Kansas City Star) In 2007, news reports by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch showed that Kinder worked directly with St. Louis developer Paul McKee to pass a bill providing $100 million in tax credits for large-scale developments. However, the requirements for getting access to the tax credits were so specific that it seemed only McKee could benefit. “Obviously, Peter Kinder is more than happy to hold press conferences and talk about ethics reform, but when it came down to it, his vote was nowhere to be found. He has more questions to answer about why he couldn’t join all of the other members of the commission in supporting this,” added Zuzenak. For information about the new ethics rules adopted by the MHDC visit: http://www.treasurer.mo.gov/Pressroom/200907/PressRelease20090731082335.asp --30--
