Koster denies companies influenced decisions

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster told a House investigative committee on Monday that political support from companies with which his office is engaged in legal action has not had an influence on decisions.

Nonetheless, Koster told the special committee that he has opted to regulate himself after a report in the New York Times detailed the way corporate interests act to sway state attorneys general across the country.

Koster denied allegations he curried favor with companies like Pfizer, a pharmaceutical conglomerate, and 5-Hour Energy, a producer of energy drinks, both of which offered his campaign committee significant contributions around the same time Koster’s consumer protection attorneys appeared to go easy on them. However, he said he recognized the potential appearance of impropriety.

“Those of us who serve in government are inevitably called upon to make decisions regarding individuals and businesses that have participated in the political process,” Koster said. “I recognize the timing of my decisions created a narrative that is capable of being viewed with a skeptical eye.”

Rep. Jay Barnes, R-Jefferson City, quizzed Koster about the specifics of his dealings with the companies. Barnes said that while he agreed with Koster’s decisions, the process by which he made them allowed for the appearance of impropriety. He said the fact that lobbyists at exotic resorts have Koster’s ear while average people do not “touches the nerve of the general public.”

Koster said that was the reason he implemented his self-regulations, and he said legislators should do the same. He called for a ban on lobbyist gifts and to refuse contributions from those with legislation pending before the body. The rules would mirror the ones he placed on his political operation.

“It is the strictest conflict of interest policy in the country. We think we’ve adopted a standard that is important,” he said.

Already state lawmakers have filed a handful of bills relating to ethics reform as they prepare to return to Jefferson City in January. Sen. Scott Sifton, D-St. Louis, would ban lawmakers from accepting anything of value from lobbyists.

Sen. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, has filed his own bill addressing lobbyists. His bill would not ban or limit the gifts, like tickets and free meals, that are given out to the tune of nearly $1 million each year. He does, however, aim to add more transparency, including an effort to eliminate a loophole that allows members of individual legislative committees to skirt reporting requirements.

As the beginning of the session approaches, lawmakers appear more ready to tackle the issue of lobbying reform than any campaign finance limits. When asked by reporters on Monday, Koster, a likely Democratic candidate for governor in 2016, was coy when asked whether he supports an effort being pushed by U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill to reinstate campaign contribution limits in Missouri.

In a statement to the Globe, McCaskill said: “Attorney General Koster and I both agree on the need for reforms, and I’m hopeful when it’s all said and done, we’ll agree on the details.”

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