Lobbyist’s ties to Blunt have Capitol abuzz (FBI investigating?)

[SaintLouisBlues]

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/9588DF17D8F1ED0D8625715A005415E9?OpenDocument

Jewell Patek has been on a fast track to become a prominent lobbyist.In 2 1/2 years, the 34-year-old lawyer has amassed 25 clients ranging from utilities to stadium promoters.

But whether his thriving business is the product of hard work or an inside track has become the Capitol's latest guessing game.Gov. Matt Blunt and Patek have known each other for years. The two served together in the House. Later, Patek worked for Blunt when Blunt was secretary of state.

Patek has raised money for Blunt and other Republicans. Lobbyist Jillian Lair, who works with Patek, is engaged to James Harris, the Blunt deputy who screens appointees for state boards and commissions.
The result is "a system set up by lobbyists and those close to the governor that hides who ultimately profits from actions made by the governor," alleges Jack Cardetti, spokesman for Missouri Democratic Party.

The Capitol is rife with talk that the FBI may be investigating the Blunt administration's ties to Patek and other lobbyists. But no hard evidence of wrongdoing has surfaced and there hasn't been corroboration that any inquiry is taking place.




A Blunt involved with unethical lobbyists? I'm shocked.

[usregimechange]

1. Yep, big shocker.

[leftyladyfrommo]

2. Is Gov. Blunt as big an idiot as he seems?

Thewe Blunts are getting embarrassing to our state.

[evlbstrd]

3. There's a shocker.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.