Are Hulshof and Steelman Ready for Primetime?

A Rough Week of Flip-Floppers and Ethics Whoppers

Are Steelman and Hulshof ready for primetime?

Following a rough week on the campaign trail, political observers and everyday Missourians alike are wondering whether Congressman Kenny Hulshof and Treasurer Sarah Steelman are ready to run for the state’s highest office. After last week began with updated finance reports showing that Attorney General Jay Nixon has more cash on hand than Congressman Hulshof and Treasurer Steelman combined, the Republican candidates spent the rest of the week trying to squash news reports of questionable ethical conduct and reckless flip-flopping.

“In just one week, Missourians saw one Republican candidate flip-flop on ethics reform and the other Republican candidate ignore ethical standards all together,” said Jack Cardetti, Missouri Democratic Party spokesman. “Missourians want a change from the Washington-style politics that Congressman Hulshof and Treasurer Steelman are playing these days. Everyone is sick of politics as usual.”

Congressman Hulshof Back Tracks on Contribution Limits, Fee Offices

Less than two months after saying he would sign a bill repealing campaign contributions limits, Congressman Kenny Hulshof flip-flopped his position and came out in favor of raising the limits. Likewise, last month Hulshof said he would end the political patronage that surrounds the current fee office system, only to back track and promise that “only operators ‘that don’t meet certain benchmarks’ would lose the right to run those offices.”

The one ethics proposal Hulshof has not back tracked on is allowing legislators to vote on bills that would directly benefit themselves financially. Congressman Hulshof said he sees no conflict of interest in that arrangement. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 02/27/2008]

“Kenny Hulshof has been in Washington so long he doesn’t know up from down or right from wrong when it comes to ethics,” said Jack Cardetti, Missouri Democratic Party spokesman. “Last month Hulshof wanted to repeal contributions limits and end fee office patronage. Now Hulshof wants the opposite. Taking both sides of an issue might make sense for Kenny Hulshof in Washington, but Missourians want real ethics reform, not political double talk.”

Hulshof Hires Blunt’s Political Team to Help Him Run on Blunt’s Agenda

To the surprise of nobody, Congressman Kenny Hulshof has hired John Hancock, Gov. Matt Blunt’s chief strategist, to run his campaign for Governor. Congressman Hulshof is, after all, running for Governor on Blunt’s agenda.

“Congressman Hulshof is running for Governor on Matt Blunt’s agenda, so it’s not surprising that he would hire Blunt’s team to run his campaign,” said Jack Cardetti, Missouri Democratic Party spokesman. “From embracing Blunt’s health care cuts to praising Blunt’s handling of the economy, Congressman Hulshof has offered unwavering support for the Blunt agenda. If Congressman Hulshof thinks Missourians want more of Matt Blunt’s failed policies, then he truly has been in Washington for too long.”