Missouri group says Koster should return campaign contribution
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Lobbyist Money Help  

Missouri group says Koster should return campaign contribution

Date: December 3, 2009
By: Michael Gossum
State Capitol Bureau

Intro:  A Missouri environmental group says the state's attorney general should return a campaign donation.
RunTime:  0:43
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The Sierra Club says the 2,500 dollar donation creates a conflict of interest because the attorney general's office has to ensure Premium Standard Farms updates its pollution technology.

Clean Water Campaign Chairman Ken Midkiff says that does not relieve concern Koster still took money from a company that he may eventually have to prosecute.

Actuality:  MIDKIFF1.WAV
Run Time:  00:11
Description: "To accept money from an entity that the state of Missouri has a current lawsuit against is at least unethical."
 
No one in the attorney general's office had comment.
 
Koster's office says it intends to pursue litigation, but didn't comment about whether Koster would return the money.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Michael Gossum.

Intro:  The Missouri Clean Water campaign says Chris Koster should return his campaign donation because it is a conflict of interest.
RunTime:  0:42
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Premium Standard Farms donated over 2,000 dollars to Chris Koster's campaign last year.

Now the Sierra Club says that donation could make prosecuting make it harder for Koster to enforce possible litigation of Premium Standards Foods.

The Sierra Club's Ken Midkiff says it's unethical to accept money from an entity that the attorney general could possibly be pursuing a case against.

Actuality:  MIDKIFF4.WAV
Run Time:  00:13
Description: "It may be a small amount. It could be a dollar. It could be ten thousand dollars. It doesn't really matter. The fact is that Attorney General Koster has taken money from an entity which the state of Missouri is suing."

The attorney general's office would not comment on the request.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Michael Gossum.