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03.18.2008 4:23 pm
Blunt gets hit with $15,000 fine, told to pay back $101,000 in donations
Jo Mannies

The Missouri Ethics Commission issued a detailed decision this afternoon, in which it laid out the particulars of the $15,000 fine imposed against Gov. Matt Blunt’s 2004 campaign for governor.

The decision also told his campaign to pay back, within 10 days, $101,060 in overlimit contributions it collected in connection with that 2004 contest.

Former commission executive director Bob Connor, who is staying on as an adviser to interim director Stacey Heislen,  consultant, said that the overlimit contributions were the result of people giving money to Blunt’s debt service fund after the election, when they’d already contributed up to the limit during the 2004 campaign.

Blunt’s campaign has not acknowledged any wrong-doing, but has agreed to pay the $15,000, which stems from the campaign’s use of an RV borrowed from a campaign supporter, Mike Kehoe.

Payments for use of the van weren’t made until 2005.

The complaints that led to the ruling had been filed by the Missouri Democratic Party.

Blunt’s campaign disagrees with the commission’s ruling, with a spokesman saying last week that the fine was paid just to end the dispute.


Article printed from Political Fix: http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/political-fix

URL to article: http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/political-fix/political-fix/2008/03/blunt-gets-hit-with-15000-fine-told-to-pay-back-101000-in-donations/

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