Missouri Independent: “Just before Parson vetoed emissions bill, staffer’s spouse hired by testing company”

“Three weeks before Missouri Gov. Mike Parson vetoed legislation that would have undermined a federally-mandated vehicle emissions testing program, the spouse of his policy director registered as a lobbyist for the lone state contractor providing those tests.

‘Unfortunately, even the appearance of corruption can taint what otherwise might have been a smart policy and can decrease citizens’ faith that their government represents them,’ Benjamin Singer, executive director of Show Me Integrity said in a statement.

Singer, who ran a state ballot initiative campaign on ethics reform and redistricting, known as Clean Missouri, said Missourians “should continue expecting politics as usual” until the state has stronger ethics laws. 

‘This is not a bad apple, it’s a rotten system,’ Singer said.”

Read the full story on its original platform here.