The Missouri legislature has basically been operating as a never-ending frat party. Lt. Gov. Pete Kinder has a known fondness for strippers and "pantless parties." John Diehl, the now former Missouri House Speaker, was forced to resign after he was found “sexting” with a college student who was part of the Missouri legislature’s intern program. And another Missouri state senator, Paul LeVota, was also forced to resign after charges of workplace harassment because he was sending unwanted, flirtatious texts to a different intern.
Finally, there are the many reports of the cozy, sometimes sexual relationships that have taken place between lawmakers and lobbyists in Missouri. One lawmaker believes those relationships should be disclosed:
Korman’s bill defines a reportable sexual gift as “sexual relations between a registered lobbyist and a member of the general assembly or his or her staff.”
The proposal excludes sex in marriage or a relationship that began before either party’s registration as a lobbyist, election to the legislature or employment on legislative staff.
"This building has had some sexual activity situations that have been reported in the press," Korman said Thursday morning, referring to a report about a relationship between a lobbyist formerly on Gov. Jay Nixon's staff and former House Speaker John Diehl. "Nowhere is there any transparency or reporting in a situation of this type."
A sexual relationship is "a type of relationship that could compromise somebody's ability to make a decision," Korman said.
The relationships would essentially be reported the same way a lawmaker would disclose a gift:
Relations between married persons or between persons who entered into a relationship prior to the registration of the lobbyist, the election of the member to the general assembly, or the employment of the staff person shall not be reportable under this subdivision. The reporting of sexual relations for purposes of this subdivision shall not require a dollar valuation.