Missouri transparency headlines
From Sunshine Review
This article is a list of transparency related news from Missouri.
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| Report It • | The Good • | The Bad • | The Ugly | |
As county assessor of Christian County, Sandra Bryant-Littles had the responsibility of ensuring that evaluations of property were fair. To have a fair evaluation of property, a property owner must fully disclose his or her pieces of property. But Sandra Bryant-Littles, however, is said to have purposely avoided disclosing some of her properties. She is said to have,for example, failed to disclose six of her vehicles she owns. These vehicles, thus, went untaxed. Now Sandra Bryant-Littles faces charged for her supposed tax evasion.[1]
In addition to tax evasion, Sandra Bryant-Littles is being charged for mail fraud. She is said to have received a bill from the county collector that underrepresented the expenses she had to pay. Instead of informing the tax collector of the mistake, Bryant-Littles is said to have intentionally mailed the underrepresented amount back. The charge of mail fraud against Bryant-littles rests on this.[2]
The settlement, reached Tuesday, sees Blunt's office turning over emails from the accounts of Blunt and five of his staffers during a three month period in 2007. In a joint statement attorneys from both sides agreed this is a "comprehensive settlement of all the issues pertaining to the governor and his office. Both parties agree, settlement of this matter is in the best interests of the citizens of the State of Missouri and the parties."[3]
However, Blunt admitted no wrongdoing in the matter.
Along with specific charges against Blunt, the amended suit adds former chief of staff Ed Martin as a defendant, accusing him of knowingly or purposely violating records laws. It alleges Martin told a reporter he could not produce his emails, when they were in fact still available on his computer as well as backup disks. With the addition of Martin, three officials who were named in earlier versions of the suit were removed.[4]
The cost of the lawsuit is nearing the million dollar mark. [5]
Blunt is highly critical of those bringing suit against him, saying the investigators "ought to be ashamed of themselves". [6]
Last year, Nixon appointed former Missouri Highway Patrol Chief Mel Fisher to investigate the accusations of wrongdoing. This past May, the investigative team filed suit against Blunt's office in Cole County Circuit Court.
In filing the suit, lawyer Chet Pleban said it was done on behalf of the citizens of Missouri because of Blount's "stonewalling" over documents that are public under the state's sunshine law.[7]
Attempting to join the suit among allegations that they just wanted to sell more papers were the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Kansas City Star, and Associated Press - all of which had requested email records and were told they would have to pay fees for them.
Muschany announced in late may that he was not running for re-election claiming that he wanted to spend more time with his family. Muschany's attorney, Robert Haar of Haar and Woods in St. Louis, told the Post-Dispatch that "the allegations are false, and we believe the jury will conclude they are false."[8]
Harr says Muschany cooperated with police, "Frankly we believe he was caught in the cross fire of a domestic custody dispute and we understand that inconsistent statements have been made that undermine the credibility of the people making these allegations.”[9]
The Police Chief's daughter, Aimie Mokwa, was one of relatives that was granted use of the program. She "rented" a one-year-old Dodge Neon that had been impounded in May 2001. In September 2002 she crashed the Neon after colliding into two parked cars on perfectly dry pavement.
After the accident with the Neon was replaced with a 1999 Ford Escort that she purchased from the tow company for $1100, which had a book value of at least $3750. Mokwa rear-ended another car with the Escort in January 2003. Officers investigating the collision determined she had a blood alcohol level of 0.17, but they did not charge her with drunk driving.
In December 2006, Mokwa bought a 2004 Chevy Malibu from the tow yard for $1500, despite the vehicle having a book value of at least $5850. Last October, she bought a 1999 Dodge Dakota for $850, even though the vehicle was worth at least $5025.[10]
Retired government auditor James Moore has been working with whistle blowing parent William Walker. Walker obtained district receipts through the Freedom of Information Act. When that failed the pair organized a petition drive asking for the district to order an audit on the school Over 2,700 signatures were collected in order to call in a state auditor.
"I would hope they name names, I would hope they fix responsibility, and more importantly, the citizens are looking for consequences for the actions," Moores said.[11]
In an attempt to alleviate some of the ever rising cost of education, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt signed into law the Textbook Transparency Act (House Bill 2048). Originally proposed by Rep. Jake Zimmerman (D- Olivette), the Act aims to force textbook publishers to disclose their wholesale prices to professors, thus allowing them to decide if a more expensive textbook is worth purchase or not. Also aiding in this decision, the Act requires professors to be informed of the content difference between a new edition and its previous one. [12]
University of Missouri student lobbyist Craig Stevenson said, “The perception is that professors have been left in the dark about how much a book is sold for. Publishing companies make the pitch on the books that they will make the most money from.” All of the publishing companies declined to comment. [13]
House passes Sunshine bill
May 4, 2009: "A number of changes in Missouri’s Open Meetings and Records law—more commonly known as the Sunshine Law—could affect how governmental bodies conduct business under new legislation that was recently passed by the House of Representatives.
State Rep. Timothy Jones, R-Eureka, sponsored House Bill 316, which would change Missouri’s open records law. One change would require governmental bodies to take minutes to reflect a summary of the discussions that occurred at a closed meeting." Read the full article here.
House defeats amendment to Sunshine Law
April 27, 2009: "The Missouri House of Representatives narrowly defeated an amendment on Tuesday that would have added clarification to Missouri’s open records law.
The amendment, offered by Rep. Jake Zimmerman, D-Olivette, was defeated by a 81-79 margin that was largely a party line vote. Nine Republicans joined the vote; all but two Democrats voted in favor of the amendment. The amendment would have clarified the definition of a public official to include all state elected officials and private individuals records when working in a public capacity." Read the full article here.
House members narrowly reject applying Sunshine Law to themselves, vote to close some police records
April 21, 2009: "While debating a bill that would change Missouri’s open records law, the Missouri House of Representatives rejected 79-81 an amendment that would apply the law to its members.
Then, with little debate, they passed on a voice vote an amendment that would close records of some law enforcement internal investigations." Read the full article here.
Missouri needs to strengthen, clarify Sunshine Law, some say
March 15, 2009: "For 18 months, a cloud of suspicion has blocked out some of the sunshine from the second floor windows of the Missouri Capitol.
Investigators tapped by the attorney general's office tried to determine whether then-Gov. Matt Blunt and his employees were following the public accountability laws that require certain documents to be maintained as open records." Read the full article here.
Koster seeks to shine more light on state's Sunshine Law
March 13, 2009: "New Attorney General Chris Koster, a Republican turned Democrat, appears to addressing head-on a matter that consumed Jefferson City for much of last year.
The issue? Missouri's open-records, open-meetings mandate, commonly known as the "Sunshine Law."
Koster's staff announced Friday that he is marking the state's official "Sunshine Week," which begins Sunday, (Mar. 15 – 21) by announcing that he has hired a full-time staffer "dedicated to educating government officials about the Missouri Sunshine Law." " Read the full article here.
Probe faults e-mail policies of Mo. ex-Gov. Blunt
March 1, 2009: "Investigators who looked into the e-mail retention practices of former Gov. Matt Blunt asserted Tuesday that his administration violated Missouri's public records laws.
However, the investigators decided not to refer the matter to prosecutors.
The report wraps up a nearly one-and-a-half-year investigation that began after a former legal counsel claimed he was fired for raising concerns that colleagues were not following public records laws. Blunt has asserted the staffer was fired for legitimate reasons." Read the full article here.
Can you afford to stay informed?
February 24, 2009: "Looking for a copy of a public document like a contract between your city and a developer?
You have the right to get one under the Missouri Sunshine Law, which makes most government documents public.
But it may cost you.
Think somewhere in the neighborhood of $360. Or even $20,000, depending on which government agency from which you're requesting information." Read the full article here.
Final batch of e-mails released in dispute over records of former Missouri governor Blunt
February 19, 2009: "The final batch of documents was released Thursday in the long-running legal dispute over access to records from the office of Matt Blunt, then Missouri’s governor.
A retired judge declared about 100 e-mails sent to and from Blunt and his aides open records, overruling the claims of Blunt’s lawyers.
The e-mails were submitted to the Cole County Circuit Court and obtained by The Kansas City Star on Thursday." Read the full article here.
Citizens across Missouri call for stronger Sunshine Law
February 11, 2009: "From Brentwood to Cape Girardeau to Rolla, citizens who have battled for more openness at City Hall urged legislators Tuesday to strengthen the state's Sunshine Law.
The witnesses told a House committee that current law provides inadequate notice of public meetings, especially when private land is being taken for commercial development. They also argued for tougher penalties, clearer record-keeping provisions and a right to electronic copies of public records.
"Elected officials should be trying to find ways to conduct business in the open, not to find ways to close things," said Jay C. Purcell, a county commissioner in Cape Girardeau County." Read the full article here.
Missouri lawmakers claim exempt from Sunshine Law
January 26, 2009: "They require others to comply with open-government laws.
But Missouri legislators have exempted themselves from having to turn over documents they prefer to keep secret.
The Missouri House and Senate have interpreted the Sunshine Law not to apply to individual lawmakers — even though it does apply to the Legislature as a whole, legislative committees and legislative staff.
Whether that complies with the spirit of the Sunshine Law is questionable. Whether that is the correct interpretation of the law also is a matter of some dispute." Read the full article here.
New legislation would expand Missouri open records law
January 21, 2009: "Some state lawmakers are seeking to strengthen Missouri's open-government law by giving the public more advanced notice of meetings on hot-button local issues such as taxes, zoning and eminent domain.
The legislation also would make public more of the workings of the Missouri Ethics Commission, which receives and reviews campaign finance complaints against politicians.
Those involved in defending and promoting Missouri's Sunshine Law said the legislation hits many of the areas that are causing problems. However, it stops short of the broader overhaul they argue is necessary, but probably wouldn't clear the Missouri General Assembly." Read the full article here.
Kansas City mayor keeps budget proposal under wraps — for now
January 15, 2009: "Mayor Mark Funkhouser of Kansas City received the city manager’s budget proposal Thursday but refused to release it despite legal advice that it is a public record.
Funkhouser said he was relying on a charter provision that he believes allows him to hold the budget private until Feb. 12. However, he acknowledged that City Attorney Galen Beaufort had told his office that the budget proposal is a public record." Read the full article here.
Missouri State University denies newspaper's records request
January 9, 2009: "Missouri State University has denied a newspaper's request to obtain the university's contingency budget plans, saying the documents are not public under the state's open records law.
The university formally denied the request by the Springfield News-Leader on Monday.
The budget plans sought by the newspaper were prepared before Thanksgiving by several university administrative offices at the request of Michael Nietzel, university president." Read the full article here.
Taxpayer tab over Mo. gov's e-mail trouble: $1.5M
January 7, 2009: "Outgoing Gov. Matt Blunt's troubles over deleted e-mails and the firing of a staff attorney has cost Missouri taxpayers about $1.5 million.
Records obtained by The Associated Press under an open records law show the state has spent more than $900,000 to defend Blunt and several past and present administration officials against a lawsuit by former legal counsel Scott Eckersley.
In addition, a separate attorney general's investigation into the e-mail practices of the governor's office has cost the state nearly $600,000, a majority of which has gone toward Blunt's defense." Read the full article here.
MSU declines to show budget plans
January 7, 2009: "Missouri State University on Monday denied a request by the News-Leader to obtain the school's contingency budget plans, saying those documents, as prepared by staff, are not public records as defined under the Missouri Open Meetings and Records Law.
But the newspaper believes such documents become public once they are retained by the university president's office, which is considered a public governmental body under state law." Read the full article here.
Public administrator records missing from Carthage office
January 5, 2009: "Records on all the wards of the Jasper County public administrator have been removed from the Carthage office, and it is unclear when they will be returned, Angie Casavecchia, the new administrator, said Monday.
Casavecchia said computer files on the wards have been erased from office computer systems, and that she has been told that paper files are in the office of John Podleski, attorney for Rita Hunter, the former public administrator.
Why the records were removed and erased was not available from officials Monday. So too was whether such action violated state law." Read the full article here.
Lawyer plans objection to settlement in e-mail case
January 1, 2009: "An attorney representing special investigators picked to determine if the e-mail policies of the Missouri governor's office complied with state open records laws said Wednesday that he will object to a legal settlement in the case.
Gov. Matt Blunt, a Republican, was sued by two-court appointed lawyers over access to the office's e-mail records. Bipartisan court-selected attorneys Joe Maxwell and Louis Leonatti took over the lawsuit initially filed by special investigators picked by Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon.
The case had been scheduled for trial Jan. 5 in Cole County Circuit Court, but a settlement that was announced Dec. 23 gave the investigators free access to certain e-mails. Blunt admitted no wrongdoing and was dismissed from the case, and future lawsuits were blocked." Read the full article here.
Blunt settles lawsuit, will release thousands of emails
Nixon not using e-mail archive system
December 22, 2008: "Gov.-elect Jay Nixon is not using Missouri's new comprehensive, e-mail archiving system that makes easy to find and provide e-mails in response to public records requests.
The reason, essentially, is it would be inconvenient for Nixon's transition team to start using it before he becomes governor. Under normal circumstances, the computer servers used to send and receive e-mails by an incoming governor might not be an issue.
But Nixon's situation is far from usual. Special investigators for his current office of attorney general are suing the outgoing occupant of his new office - Gov. Matt Blunt - to determine if the governor's e-mail practices have complied with Missouri laws." Read the full article here.
Council orders probe into Funkhouser on possible ethics breaches
December 11, 2008: "The Kansas City Council on Thursday ordered an investigation into whether Mayor Mark Funkhouser and his staff broke state ethics and open-records laws.
On a unanimous vote, the council told the city’s internal auditor and the municipal ethics commission to investigate allegations by former top-ranking mayoral staffer Joe Miller that he, at Funkhouser’s direction, had violated the laws.
Funkhouser voted along with the 12 council members for the investigation. He said during the council meeting that he was confident he had done nothing wrong." Read the full article here.
Fines sought against Mo. governor over records law
December 4, 2008: "Special court-appointed investigators are seeking fines against Gov. Matt Blunt, alleging he "knowingly and purposely" violated Missouri's public-records law by denying access to e-mails.
The request for penalties is outlined in a revised lawsuit against Blunt and his former chief of staff. The two investigators _ one Republican and one Democrat _ asked the court Wednesday for permission to file the amended lawsuit, which was made public Thursday." Read the full article here.
Taser critics renew call for more police oversight
November 24, 2008: "Members of Columbia community groups calling for greater regulation on police use of Tasers are pointing to cases they consider improper use of the devices or cases where they were used in violation of the police department’s own policy.
During a news conference this morning at the Old Labor Temple, 611 N. Garth Ave., Taser critics said recently released police records reveal too many instances where police used a Taser on a subject who was only running away from officers or for minor law violations." Read the full article here.
Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt's controvery about e-mails is really about the public's right to know
November 20, 2008: "After an exhaustive three days huddled together in a fifth-floor newspaper conference room, 12 reporters and editors from the state's three largest news organizations breathed a collective sigh of relief and wondered aloud about what they had found.
Together, in a rare if not unprecedented collaboration, we had combed through 22 boxes of e-mails from the administration of Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt. Page by painful page, we read nearly every word of more than 60,000 of them from a three-month period in 2007 as the issue of e-mails and public records rose to statewide attention." Read the full column here.
E-mail record contradicts Blunt claims
November 15, 2008: "For more than a year, Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt’s administration has defended itself against accusations that it has ignored laws that guarantee an open government.
The administration contended that a fired staff lawyer never offered advice about the governor's policy requiring public records, including e-mails, to be retained.
But he did.
Blunt’s staffers said the administration did not regularly conduct state business out of public view on campaign e-mail accounts.
But they did." Read the full article here.
Blunt's office had no e-mail sheriff
November 13, 2008: "When it came to handling office e-mails in Gov. Matt Blunt's administration, it was up to individual employees to decide what to save and what to purge.
Nobody made sure that state rules for preserving public records, including e-mails, were followed, according to sworn testimony by three former top members of Blunt's administration." Read the full article here.
Blunt attorneys denied ordering deletion of e-mails
November 12, 2008: "Two attorneys who advised the governor's office on document retention denied telling computer technicians to record over backup tapes that store state e-mail records, according to depositions released Wednesday.
The state's deputy computer chief, Chris Wilkerson, has testified previously that he was told to reuse the e-mail backup tapes after a Sunshine Law request was submitted by The Associated Press." Read the full article here.
Mo. gov. wants e-mail lawsuit dismissed
November 5, 2008: "An attorney representing Gov. Matt Blunt against a lawsuit over access to his office's e-mail records urged a state trial judge to dismiss the case Wednesday.
Former Supreme Court Judge John Holstein, who represents the Republican governor, said the lawsuit doesn't offer evidence for many of its allegations and it's still unclear exactly who is suing. Holstein, using the example of a lawsuit in an automobile case, said someone can't sue and accuse another of driving illegally without explaining how." Read the full article here.
Missouri governor to remain a party to ex-counsel’s defamation lawsuit
November 4, 2008: "A judge on Monday refused to dismiss Gov. Matt Blunt from a lawsuit accusing him of ruining a staff member’s reputation to cover up the illegal destruction of public records.
Jackson County Circuit Judge Michael Manners rejected the argument that Blunt in the performance of his job has absolute immunity to make any derogatory statements about people." Read the full article here.
Mo. gov. agrees to give e-mail records to media
October 15, 2008: "Gov. Matt Blunt has agreed to provide old e-mails at no cost to several media outlets that sued his administration.
Under a settlement announced Wednesday, Blunt's administration is to provide free copies of records from the state's backup e-mail system to satisfy media Sunshine Law requests." Read the full article here.
Taser records to be released by end of October, police say
October 11, 2008: "The Columbia Police Department will release its Taser-use records by the end of the month, but the records won't go directly to the group that asked for them in the first place. Instead, the records are headed to the City Council, where they'll be reviewed and made available to the public free of charge.
Mayor Darwin Hindman decided last week to intervene in the dispute over access to records between the Police Department and Grass Roots Organizing, the Missouri-based advocacy group that requested the records. Hindman announced the plan publicly at Monday's City Council meeting." Read the full article here.
Council action to open Taser files
October 9, 2008: "Extensive information about local law enforcement officers’ use of Tasers will be made available to the public by the end of the month after Mayor Darwin Hindman asked that records sought by a local activist coalition be provided to the Columbia City Council.
In August, Ed Berg, on behalf of activist group Grass Roots Organizing, or GRO, and other groups, made an Open Meetings and Records Law request to the Columbia Police Department for records concerning their use of Tasers." Read the full article here.
Sunshine policy adopted; Solid Waste District T appoints Jim Dickerson as official custodian of records
October 6, 2008: "Working with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Solid Waste District T is making changes to tighten up its policies and procedures, including a Missouri Sunshine Law policy and designated records custodian.
The Solid Waste District had failed to comply with the requirements for record keeping and public meeting notices, according to a performance audit completed earlier this year.
In order to comply with the intent of the Sunshine Law, the district has adopted a policy that mirrors what the Missouri Attorney General’s office recommends." Read the full article here.
St. Peters Wins Open Records Suit Over Great Rivers
September 9, 2008: The Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court ruled in favor of St. Peters in a lawsuit filed against the city by the Great Rivers Environmental Law Center.
The Great Rivers Environmental Law Center was seeking records involving the city's effort to revise the government's map of the Mississippi River floodway. In the suit they alleged that the city "knowingly and purposely" violated the Sunshine Law.
St. Charles County Circuit Judge Ted House ruled for the city last week.
House determined the city did not violate Missouri's open- records law. The Judge also ruled that the Great Rivers Environmental Law Center should pay court costs for the court case.
Amended lawsuit renewed in Blunt e-mail case
August 25, 2008: "A bipartisan pair of prominent attorneys renewed a lawsuit Monday seeking e-mails from Gov. Matt Blunt's office while asserting it has violated Missouri's open-records law.
The amended lawsuit also renews an assertion that someone acting under the control of the governor's office sought to destroy backup e-mail records to avoid complying with a Sunshine Law request by The Associated Press." Read the full article here.
Overland: Public records attached with price tag
July 29, 2008: "She knew copies of public records weren't handed out free of charge, but Overland resident Courtney Cerulo didn't expect the fee that would be attached to a videodisc of a City Council session.
Cerulo would have to pay $155 for the recording, which she wanted in hopes of bolstering her complaint that Ward 1 Councilwoman Eedie Cuminale is serving on the council even though she lacks an occupancy permit." Read the full article here.
Missteps suggest need for Sunshine Law training
July 27, 2008: "A 911 advisory board arrived at a recommendation without a public meeting.
A park advisory board chairman took informal votes by telephone to reach a decision.
A senior citizens board failed to notify the public of money being allocated.
At least two government bodies held closed-door sessions to confront elected officials.
Those are five of nearly a dozen potential violations in Missouri's open meeting and records law documented in recent months by the Southeast Missourian. In many cases, decisions to spend tax dollars were made without public input." Read the full article here.
Judge names bipartisan legal duo to take over e-mail suit filed against Blunt
July 23, 2008: "A bipartisan duo of lawyers from Mexico, Mo., has been charged with determining what happens to a lawsuit over e-mails filed against Gov. Matt Blunt.
On Tuesday, Cole County Circuit Judge Richard Callahan issued an order naming the two lawyers — Joe Maxwell and Louis Leonatti— as "special assistant attorneys general" who will review the suit and decide whether to go forward with it." Read the full article here.
Bipartisan team investigates Blunt over emails
Judge zaps lawsuit over Blunt e-mail
July 11, 2008: "A circuit judge in Jefferson City today threw out a lawsuit to force access to Gov. Matt Blunt’s e-mail records.
Cole County Circuit Judge Richard Callahan upheld a request from Blunt’s lawyers that the suit be dismissed. Callahan found that Mel Fisher, a special investigator appointed by Attorney General Jay Nixon to look at the records, lacked standing to bring the suit to gain access." Read the full article here.
Judge set to rule on whether battle for Blunt's e-mails can continue
July 10, 2008: "A Cole County judge expects to decide next week whether a state investigative team and three news organizations can pursue their court battle for copies of Gov. Matt Blunt's e-mails.
Blunt's lawyers, Jim Meadows and John Holstein of Springfield, argued Thursday that the investigators lacked legal authority and their lawsuit seeking the e-mails should be thrown out." Read the full article here.
Governor signs Textbook Transparency Act
Judge hears police public records case lawyers in private
June 21, 2008: "A court session in a lawsuit aimed at gaining public access to police department records was held in private Friday while the plaintiff and a reporter were left waiting outside.
"Isn't it great irony that we are here to talk about open government," said John Chasnoff, an activist who filed the suit demanding internal documents about officers who used 2006 World Series tickets that had been seized from scalpers." Read the full story here.
Mo. media outlets try to join e-mail lawsuit
June 11, 2008: "Several media outlets are seeking to enter a government lawsuit against Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt.
The lawsuit was filed in May by investigators selected by Attorney General Jay Nixon to determine whether Blunt's office violated open-records laws by deleting some e-mails. The suit accuses Blunt or a deputy of ordering the destruction of backup e-mail tapes to avoid complying with an Associated Press open-records request." Read the full story here.
Missouri Budget approved by House
March 28, 2008: A $22.5 billion budget passed the House on Thursday as Democrats complained that the spending increases proposed by majority Republicans for education and health care weren't large enough. The budget is a $1 million dollar increase over the previous year, which had set a record as the largest budget in Missouri's history. House Budget Committee Chairman Allen Icet said state money for public schools has more than doubled from 1997 to the 2008 budget while student enrollment has remained virtually flat.[14]
Teacher pay provisions not based on merit
March 21, 2008: There are several bills in the General Assembly this session concerning teacher pay. Individual teachers should be able to decide whether their compensation is based on their individual performance; it should not be left to the discretion of a monopolistic cartel. The majority of teachers will not vote to accept merit pay, because without merit pay, bad teachers will receive the same pay as good teachers — a tragedy of any state-run enterprise.
Worse, this provision provides perverse incentives for good teachers because it discourages them from remaining in a profession where their performance quality is under-recognized. And if Missouri’s aggregate public school performance is any indication of teacher quality, there are far more bad teachers in the state than good.[15]
[edit] References
- ↑ News-Leader.com, Christian County assessor arrest
- ↑ News-Leader.com, Christian County assessor arrest
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedAP - ↑ Kansas City Star, Revised lawsuit accuses Gov. Blunt of violating sunshine law, December 4, 2008
- ↑ Cost in Mo. gov. legal battles hits $1M, Associated Press, December 5, 2008
- ↑ Blunt: E-mail investigation "ridiculous", WGEM.com, December 10, 2008
- ↑ St.Louis Post-Dispatch, Blunt's lawyers try to throw out suit seeking e-mails, July 10, 2008
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedSt._Louis_Today - ↑ Fox News, Gov. Blunt Speaks On Muschany Indictment, August 7, 2008
- ↑ The Newspaper, Missouri: Police Caught Driving Impounded Cars, July 20, 2008
- ↑ Fox4 News, Liberty School Audit: Money Spent on Alcohol, Travel, Golf Clubs, July 14, 2008
- ↑ KOMU.com, Textbook Transparency, June 29, 2008
- ↑ KansasCity.com, New Missouri law aims to help college students save on textbooks, June 28, 2008
- ↑ Forbes, Mo. House OKs $22B budget for next year, March 28, 2008
- ↑ Show Me Insititute, Bad bill, Bad teachers, March 21, 2008
