JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri Ethics Commission on Friday fined a man who describes himself as a “citizen lobbyist” and ordered him to officially register as a lobbyist, a move he said could discourage activists from speaking for or against legislation.
The commission claims there’s probable cause to believe Ron Calzone, a director of Missouri First, improperly acted as a lobbyist without registering and filing paperwork.
The ethics panel, which is responsible for enforcing lobbying reporting laws and other ethics laws, fined Calzone $1,000 and ordered him to stop trying to influence potential state legislation until he registers and files expenditure reports. Lobbyists in Missouri must pay a $10 registration fee and file regular reports detailing spending on lawmakers and other lobbying activities.
The order cited the Missouri First charter, which states the organization will “campaign for legislative and ballot issues.” Calzone describes the group as a think tank that promotes limited government.
“The old saying, ’There is strength in numbers’ holds true, especially when lobbying Missouri House and Senate members,” a screenshot from the group’s website included in the order reads.
Calzone said he identifies himself as a director of Missouri First when he testifies at House and Senate committees and meets with individual lawmakers. He said he doesn’t meet the definition of a legislative lobbyist in state statute because Missouri First never specifically designated him as its lobbyist. He instead described himself as a citizen lobbyist.
He said he doesn’t buy lawmakers gifts and that the group “doesn’t even have a checking account” to pay him.
Calzone said the ethics commission “has created a huge gray zone that will leave a lot of citizens unsure of their ability to influence the laws that they have to live under.” He added that the order violates his freedom of speech.
He plans to appeal the order in court.
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