“This Week” with Rep. Caleb Rowden

More than 250 bills were pre-filed Tuesday, for the 2016 Missouri Legislative Session that gets underway January 6th.

Republican State Representative Caleb Rowden of Columbia, pre-filed a sweeping 4-point ethics reform package.

As our guest on “This Week,” Representative Rowden talks about why ethics reform is so important to him at this moment.

Here’s a transcript of the conversation:

Caleb Rowden: You know, I think it is, with the events that have happened over the last year, year and a half, there is a mandate. I think a strong mandate for us to step up and do something. We have the power to regulate ourselves and I think we should. It’s kind of come down to do whatever we can, however we can to work toward restoring trust in the process when our constituents look at Jefferson City. That’s the motivation. That’s why I did it and that’s why I think a lot of folks are going to be supportive of it this year.

Joey Parker: It’s been called the Multimillion Dollar Legislature and many folks that I have met in the legislature say it does not influence how they vote. Senator Brian Munslinger said he’ll go have dinner with a lobbyist or a party or a group, but he said that lunch won’t change the way he is going to vote on the issue. His constituents dictate that. But you’re talking about just the mere perception.

Caleb Rowden: Yeah, I think in this case perception is reality. You know, that’s something that my dad taught me a long time ago in a lot of areas with life, and I think this is the same. I certainly agree with the Senator that there are a lot of great folks down there, who go down and do things for the right reasons and they’re always looking out for their constituents, but I think the perception and where we are at right now warrants immediate action.

Joey Parker: The four point plan will first prohibit lobbyist gifts to lawmakers and their families and staff members. Is that of any kind, or up to a limit?

Caleb Rowden: That is a complete ban.

Joey Parker: And how about when a former official decides to be a lobbyist?

Caleb Rowden: Yeah, so there are a couple of things in there. One they have to wait a year before they can do that and when they do that they have to dissolve their candidate committee and so if there were dollars, campaign dollars, they have to get rid of those. According to what the law says that they can do with those before they can register as a lobbyist, so there’s kind of two prongs to that that just ensures that any influence there…that we do our best to try to get rid of that.

Joey Parker: Okay, and third – prohibit lobbyist from maintaining a candidate committee with Missouri Ethics Commission.

Caleb Rowden: Yep, and so that’s kind of the same thing just to make sure that any undoing influence in dollars aren’t dollars from the campaign side and aren’t being used in any other capacity, get rid of them before you start your lobbying practice.

Joey Parker: and fourth – stricter reporting of elected officials travel expenses and personal financial information.

Caleb Rowden: Yeah, there are still certain times when legislators take educational trips that are paid for by non-profits and things like that, and if we are going to do that we want to make sure that that is reported in a timely mainly. Right now our personal finances are only reported two times a year. So, this changes that. If you take a trip for educational purposes and a non-profit pays for it you have to report it within thirty days.

Joey Parker: And this is all endorsed by Speaker Todd Richardson?

Caleb Rowden: Yeah, the Speaker, I feel very fortunate that he’s put his confidence in me to kind of lead and be charge of it. It’s something he’s been passionate about he’s been passionate about it his time as a floor leader and now his time as a speaker which is why I’m much, much more optimistic that we have a chance to get it across the finish line.

Joey Parker: Not a whole lot of lawmakers on either side of the aisle wanted this to really pass, but do you feel like, at least in the house, it’s going to have legs this year?

Caleb Rowden: I absolutely do. We have the assurance of the Speaker that it will be one of, if not the first thing that comes out of the House. So, I filed there are four separate bills and then we will file a big bill, as well that has all those components in one package. And we probably will send them both to the Senate so they can have a couple of different kind of mechanisms to be able to get across the finish we want to take away as many distractions as many opportunities from failures as we can.

Joey Parker: And, as far as the Senate is concerned, that was my next question: What do you think it’s going to do over there?

Caleb Rowden: I think the dynamics, the leaderships changed a little bit. I think the dynamics are better. We’ve been working with, talking with senate leaderships throughout the course of the interim. They are certainly willing and want to go down this road. I think, you know, the devil’s in the details. I’ve always said “let’s not let perfect be the enemy of possible.” So, there’s a lot of folks that are going to say we need more, we need to do less “blah blah blah” and I understand that. But, ultimately like I said, the mandate is there and we gotta pass something and this is a good strong start effective functional legislation that makes a difference.

Joey Parker: Now, also as far as the Syrian refugee problem: you were one of the hundred-plus lawmakers that signed on the letter from Speaker Richardson to the governor wanting him to clarify his stance on this. Again, this is more of a federal issue even though thirty-plus governors have said they are against it. What is it that you would like to see?

Caleb Rowden: Well, I think my biggest concern there is certainly, and I’ve said this every time. There is a level of compassion here when you see these Syrian kids wash up on the shores and dead because they are trying to escape the civil war. It is gut wrenching. I mean heart wrenching no question about it. I think we have to be honest about where we are at the state level and what we have the ability to do. The thing that concerns me and from what I’ve heard from a couple of different governors is that the vetting process and the whole process that gets those refugees into the country that happens with the department of state, the department of defense security. States don’t really know what that process is. They don’t know much about that vetting process, so when these folks come into the state we don’t know who they are, what process they’ve gone through and I think if the feds would be more willing to open up that dialogue a little bit so states had a better idea of that process. I think states, even Republican led states, would be more willing to engage in the dialogue, but ultimately this is a matter of public safety for our country and for our state. That has to be the top priority at least for the moment and we have certainly some heighten tensions around the world and we can’t be dishonest about that.

Joey Parker: Representative Rowden, thank you for joining us. I appreciate it always.

Caleb Rowden: thank you, thank you very much.