House Speaker said committee investigating Mo. AG to hold hearing before end of year

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10/29/2014: Radio Story - @SpeakerTimJones says he will form a committee to investigate allegations involving Attorney General Chris Koster

10/30/2014: Newspaper Story - Mo. Attorney General declines allegations published in the @nytimes

Intro:	The House Speaker says the chair of the committee to investigate alleged impropriety by the state's attorney general says he intends to issue a report before the end of the year.
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Wrap: Republican House Speaker Tim Jones announced that Representative Jay Barnes of Jefferson City will head the committee to investigate reports of special interest money to Attorney General Chris Koster.

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Description: "Representative Barnes said his intention is to have a hearing on this matter before the end of the year and, and handle that hearing efficiently and expiditiously and his desire and hope was to come up with some recommendations for the attorney general's office by the end of the year."

The announcement from Jones comes two weeks after the New York Times story that reported Koster accepted donations from Five Hour Energy while dropping a lawsuit against it.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Meghan Boggess.

Intro:	Missouri's House Speaker announced the committee to investigate the attorney general's office.
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Wrap: House Speaker Tim Jones announced a government accountability committee.

The St. Louis County Republican created the committee following a New York Times article that reported the attorney general's office softened investigations into several companies after receiving contributions from them.

Koster said in a statement that the New York Times article misrepresented facts.

Jones says the chair, Republican Representative Jay Barnes of Jefferson City, wants a serious group.

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Description: "A group that would take this mission very seriously, that would not be on a witch hunt of any sort."

Jones says the committee hopes to issue a report by the end of the year.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Meghan Boggess.

Intro:	Senior House Democrat defends the committee charged with investigating a New York Times report of wrongdoing involving the Attorney General.
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Wrap: The senior House Democrat defended the House speaker's government accountability committee.

Representative Chris Kelly of Columbia said the committee should investigate campaign finance and oversight laws instead of the attorney general's office.

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Description: "There was a 16-month gap between the time Koster took any contribution from these people and when he took any action. As distinct from in the Missouri legislature when tens of thousands of dollars change hands and the action happens the same day."

Kelly says the New York Times article that prompted the House Speaker to create the committee does not accuse Koster of breaking any law.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Meghan Boggess.