Political Contributions Returned

June 27, 2006, JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Eight candidates have returned political contributions they received from supporters of embryonic stem cell research and human cloning. The Missouri Catholic Conference (MCC) previously called upon all candidates who received political contributions to disassociate themselves from such organizations, and to refund political contributions made by organizations formed to support such unethical practices.

The Supporters of Health Research and Treatments (SHRT), a political action committee specifically formed to support candidates who promote embryonic stem-cell research in Missouri, has reported to the Missouri Ethics Commission that it has made campaign contributions to 53 candidates for state office. The amount of funds contributed to the candidates ranged from $300.00 to $5,000.00.

Deacon Larry Weber, Executive Director of the Missouri Catholic Conference, stated, “The MCC is committed to informing Missouri voters about the political activities of organizations promoting human cloning and embryonic stem cell research, and will report to Missouri voters about candidates who associate with such organizations. Missouri voters deserve to know which candidates support or oppose these immoral activities.”

Missouri law allows candidates to return a campaign contribution within ten days of its receipt to its donor without reporting it in the recipient’s campaign finance report. Other candidates may have accepted contributions from SHRT but did not understand SHRT’s support for embryonic stem research when they received the contribution. Although candidates in this latter instance would still have to report the contributions from SHRT on their campaign finance report, some have refunded the contributions to the SHRT committee.

The eight candidates who have told the MCC that they returned contributions from SHRT were: Rep. Jim Avery (R-Crestwood), Rep. Jason R. Brown (R- Platte City), Rep. Mark Bruns (R-Jefferson City), Sen. Norma Champion (R-Springfield), Rep. Rod Jetton (R-Marble Hill), Rep. Kenny Jones (R-California), and Rep. Jay Wasson (R-Nixa). Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal (D-University City), Rep. Rachel Storch (D-St. Louis) and Rep. Gina Walsh (D-St. Louis) have stated that they never received the contribution that SHRT reported it made to the three representatives. Rep. Jerry Nolte (R-Gladstone), has stated that the contribution he received will be returned and reported on the next campaign finance report he files in July.

Rep. Mark Bruns (R-Jefferson City) stated when returning the contribution from SHRT, “The voters of my district do not support SCNT research, nor do I. With that in mind, I think it would be unethical for me to use the donations for my re-election effort.”

In returning a contribution made to his re-election campaign, Rep. Kenny Jones (R-California), informed SHRT that the donation was incompatible with his campaign and the citizens he represented.

Rep. Jason R. Brown (R- Platte City) stated in a letter to SHRT when returning their contribution, “When Platte Countians for Brown received this campaign contribution, we were unaware of your committee’s purpose to promote embryonic stem cell research. Please remove our committee’s name from your database, as we will not accept contributions from Supporters of Health Research & Treatments.”

Deacon Weber stated, “We are pleased that these candidates have chosen to reinforce their pro-life position by returning SHRTs campaign contributions. We hope that other professed pro-life candidates will follow their lead.”

The other candidates who received a contribution from SHRT but have not reported they have returned the contribution at this time are: Rep. Joe Aull (D-Marshall), Rep. Judy Baker (D-Columbia), Rep. Craig C. Bland (D-Kansas City, Rep. Sharon Sanders Brooks (D-Kansas City), Rep. John Patrick Burnett (D- Kansas City), Rep. Nathan Cooper (R-Cape Girardeau), Rep. Shannon Cooper (R-Clinton), Rep. Michael George Corcoran (D-St. Ann), Rep. Mike S. Daus (D-St. Louis), Rep. Kathlyn Fares (R-St. Louis), Rep. Tim Flook (R-Liberty), Sen. Michael R. Gibbons (R-Kirkwood), Sen. Chuck Graham (D-Columbia), Rep. Jim Guest (R-King City), Rep. Jeff Harris (D-Columbia), Rep. Esther Haywood (D-St. Louis), Rep. Connie LaJoyce Johnson (D-St. Louis), Rep. Cathy Jolly (D-Kansas City), Rep. Gayle Kingery (R-Poplar Bluff), Sen. David Klindt (R-Bethany), Sen. Chris Koster (R-Harrisonville), Rep. Sara Lampe (D-Springfield), Rep. Beth Low (D-Kansas City), Rep. Jenee Lowe (D-Kansas City), Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford (D-St. Louis), Rep. Mike Parson (R-Bolivar), Rep. David Pearce (R-Warrensburg), Rep. Bryan Pratt (R-Blue Springs), Rep. Ronald F. Richard (R-Joplin), Rep. Ed Robb (R-Columbia), Rep. Martin T. Rucker (D-St. Joseph), Rep. Ray Salva (D-Sugar Creek), Rep. David Sater (R-Cassville), Rep. Rob Schaaf (R-St. Joseph), Rep. Vicki A. Schneider (R-O'Fallon), Sen. Charles W. Shields (R-St. Joseph), Rep. Michael Spreng (D-Florissant), Rep. Neal St. Onge (R-Ellisville), Rep. Kevin Threlkeld (R-Washington), Rep. Steven Tilley (R-Perryville), Rep. Thomas A.Villa (D-St. Louis), Rep. Michael Vogt (D-St. Louis), Rep. Ed Wildberger (D-St. Joseph), Rep. Brian David Yates (R-Lee's Summit), Rep. Terry Young (D-Kansas City).

Rep. Shannon Cooper (R-Clinton) has stated to the MCC that he will not return SHRT’s campaign contribution. In a letter to the MCC, Rep. Cooper stated, ”It is apparent that (according to the MCC) by accepting this particular contribution, I am obligated to vote a certain way. I believe that public opinion will not be controlled by groups such as the Missouri Catholic Conference – or the Supporters of Health Research and Treatments – on this issue [embryonic stem cell research]. It is difficult for me to believe that the MCC’s opinion on this issue is a true representation of the views of all Catholics.”

The MCC will continue to monitor SHRT’s campaign contributions. SHRT’s next campaign finance report is due Monday, July 17, 2006.

SHRT’s campaign finance reports are available on the Missouri Ethics Commission website and are linked from: http://www.mec.mo.gov/Ethics/CampaignFinance/CFCommitteeInfo1.aspx?MECID=C051043&Year=2006.