Rowdy Rod’s back in the news again for questionable tactics. Can anyone believe that a potential investigation at the capitol involving “Pay to Play” does not somehow involve Jetton? You would think that this guy would be trying to stay under the radar!

Springfield News Leader:

“Since his four-year reign as speaker effectively ended last May, the Marble Hill Republican has accepted $43,172 in contributions from mostly other political action committees.

In an interview, Jetton said he restructured the PAC to be a continuing committee so he could continue raising money to support conservative Republicans.

“We raise a little money and try to conduct activities that would be beneficial to my efforts to continue to get Republicans elected,” said Jetton, who is now running a full-time political consulting company called Rod Jetton & Associates.

But campaign finance records show Jetton’s PAC has made just two direct contributions to Republican candidates — $675 to Sen. Jim Lembke of St. Louis and $675 to Rita Hunter, the former Jasper County public administrator on June 26.

Since May 2008, Jetton’s committee has spent a total of $97,230 for mostly office expenses, travel, hotel rooms, parking fees for Jefferson City and payroll to some employees who also happen to work for his political consulting firm, records show.

When term-limited legislative leaders leave office, they typically get rid of unspent funds by disbursing them to political allies, causes or their party committees.

But instead, Jetton has used the fund to pay $30,750 to employees and a fundraising contractor since May, according to a News-Leader analysis of multiple Missouri Ethics Commission reports.

It’s not uncommon to continue using a committee after leaving office. But Jetton’s use is unique in that he is mixing the independent committee’s activity with his paid campaign work that other Republicans have criticized him for doing while he was in office.” Read more…

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