Following a year of two sex scandals involving state lawmakers and interns, Missouri's New Year's resolution is to reform its legislative ethics laws. The first effort came Wednesday with the introduction of a bill in the Missouri House, sponsored by Republican Rep. Bart Korman from Montgomery County, that would define sexual relations between lobbyists and legislators as gifts.
If the bill passes, it would require that "sexual relations between a registered lobbyist and a member of the general assembly or his or her staff" be included on monthly lobbyist gift disclosure forms. Exceptions would only be made for relations between married couples or couples that entered a relationship before before being elected, registered as a lobbyist, or employed as a staff member.
Thankfully, the bill notes that "the reporting of sexual relations for purposes of this subdivision shall not require a dollar valuation."
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