By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – The Missouri Ethics Commission is raising what it calls "serious concerns" about the Missouri House Speaker's side business as a political consultant.
Rod Jetton (R-Marble Hill) has been paid thousands of dollars to serve as a consultant to Senator Jason Crowell. The two southeast Missouri Republicans also are friends.
After questions arose about the arrangement, Jetton asked the Ethics Commission if it was legal to run a consulting business that gets paid by another elected official.
The Commissions's opinion, released today (Monday), says the arrangement is legal under state campaign finance laws. But the commission expressed "serious concerns" about Jetton's ability to avoid violations of conflict of interest laws and the appearance of impropriety.