Missouri House Democrats today announced a raft of proposals related to ethics and accountability in state government.

Most of the measures have been introduced in past sessions, but failed to gain traction in the Republican-led Legislature.

Among them:

  • A law forcing lawmakers, statewide elected officials and staff members to wait a year before going to work as paid lobbyists.

“It’s a sad day when Washington, D.C., has stricter ethical standards than we do here in Missouri,” said Jake Zimmerman, a St. Louis County Democrat and the bill’s sponsor, alluding to rules requiring members of Congress to wait a year before becoming lobbyists.

  • A Constitutional amendment to remove political considerations from the redistricting process.

The Democrats’ plan would follow the method used in Iowa, in which the state’s demography office defines Congressional and state House and Senate districts without regard to voter demographics or the effect on incumbents.

  • A law prohibiting gubernatorial appointees from contributing to political campaigns during their term in office.

On this point, Democrats circulated a chart showing more than $1.1 million in donations to Gov. Matt Blunt’s campaign by his own appointees to state boards and committees.

  • A law limiting campaign contributions by political committees to the same levels as contributions by individuals.

Currently, committees are allowed to donate 10 times as much as individuals, who can give $1,275 to statewide candidates, $650 to Senate candidates and $325 to those running for the House.

  • A law requiring fee office contracts to be awarded to local public school foundations, charitable organizations or by competitive bid.

Democrats called the current system a form of political patronage.

House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, an Independence Democrat, acknowledged the party’s difficulties in forwarding such legislation in prior years and invited Republicans to work with them this time around.

“Ending the government-for-sale culture in the Missouri Capitol hasn’t been a priority by the leadership,” LeVota said. “We ask Republican lawmakers to join us in taking the lead on accountability.”