A House committee argued about the ethicality of anonymous donations in Missouri politics.
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A House committee argued about the ethicality of anonymous donations in Missouri politics.

Date: March 7, 2016
By: Madeline Odle
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
The House Government Oversight Committee was urged to require national political activist organizations to disclose where they get their money if they engage in Missouri politics.  
RunTime: 0:43
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Currently these organizations can recieve massive amounts of money anonymously, and use that money to attack or support specific candidates or issues.

The committee's chair , Cole County Representative Jay Barnes,questioned the ethics regarding disclosure, but voiced his own frustration with secret donors.  

Actuality:  CAMPAIGN.WAV
Run Time: 00:14
Description: "It is cowardly, I absolutely agree with you. The people who do this are absolute cowards. And in fact, it happened in my county, and I was very angry, angry enough that I wanted to do something about it."
Bill sponsor, Kansas City Democrat Representative Lauren Arthur, said this bill is necessary to win back the public's trust in Missouri.

 

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Madeline Odle.

Intro: 
House Government Oversight discussed changing the law regarding anonymous donations in political financing.  
RunTime: 0:48
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Kansas City Democrat Representative Lauren Arthur's bill would require national political activist organizations to disclose the names of their donors.

Arthur said these organizations can attack or support specific candidates, people and issues using massive amounts of money they recieve anonymously.

 

Actuality:  SUPERPAC.WAV
Run Time: 00:16
Description: "I think there's already an outcry in frustration over the fact that the committee for fluffy puppies and kitties are putting out this nasty attack ad and they dont know what's true and what's not, and it's hard to get to the source of what's true."
Committee chair Cole County Republican Representative Jay Barnes said it is unethical that these groups can do what they do, but forcing them to disclose their donors would not fix the problem.

 

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Madeline Odle.