Koster attacked for voting to eliminate donation limits, skipping vote on vouchers
State Reps. Margaret Donnelly, D-Richmond Heights, and Jeff Harris, D-Columbia, are blasting another rival for attorney general — state Sen. Chris Koster, D-Harrisonville — for two actions deemed unacceptable to the Democratic base in particular, and Missouri voters in general.
On Wednesday, said Harris, Koster “skipped out of a committee hearing to avoid casting a vote on the issue of school vouchers which was before the Pensions, Veterans’ Affairs and General Laws Committee…”
“Koster is clearly finding it difficult to shed his long-held Republican positions – like his strong support of vouchers,” Harris said in a statement. “Rather than let voters know exactly where he stands on this pivotal issue involving funding for our schools, Koster ducked.”
Harris noted that Koster “took almost $100,000 from a single Republican donor (Rex Sinquefield) who strongly supports school vouchers. As Attorney General, would Koster also dodge taking on tough cases when they conflict with what his wealthy campaign contributors support? Democratic voters should make no mistake.
“Chris Koster’s no-show on yesterday’s voucher vote is no different than a vote against Missouri’s public schools. Instead of taking the heat, Chris Koster got out of the kitchen. I have always been 100% against vouchers and will hold the line against them in my capacity as Attorney General.”
Donnelly then issued a release today declaring that Koster “showed his true colors again today, joining with Republicans to pass SB 1038, which would remove limits on campaign contributions in Missouri.”
She noted that Koster had been a Republican until he “switched parties this summer prior to announcing his campaign for Attorney General.”
“This is absolutely inexcusable, but at the same time I am not surprised,’ Donnelly said in a statement. “From day one, Chris Koster’s priority list has been: one, Chris Koster’s special interest friends; and all the way at the bottom of his list are Missouri families.”
“This is not the first time Koster has voted to remove campaign contribution limits. In 2006, he voted for HB 1900, after which he raised nearly $400,000 in contributions that exceeded the original voter-mandated limits. HB 1900 was ruled unconstitutional last year.”
Donnelly contended that the vote was part of a pattern by Koster. “He’s voted to eliminate health care coverage for thousands of seniors and children; he’s put student loans at risk; and he’s taken tens of thousands of dollars from special interests,” she said.
“We need an Attorney General who is not handcuffed by favors he owes to special interests,” Donnelly said. “As Attorney General, I will put the interests of Missouri families above all else.”
UPDATE
Here’s the response from the Koster campaign:
“Another day, another desperate attack from Koster’s opponents.
“They engage in a tired old game of attack politics because they know
full well they can’t match his experience in the courtroom or on
issues where he’s offering bold solutions.
“Koster has always been a strong supporter of the Missouri public
education system and will continue to fight for public schools in any
way he can.”
(No Ratings Yet)
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So Margaret Donnelly is going to be an advocate of poor minorities trapped in failing urban schools by “holding the line” against vouchers, which would enable them to attend outstanding private schools for free. Makes sense to me!