"Conduct Unbecoming A Governor"

BLISTERING HULSHOF RELEASE ATTACKS STEELMAN'S ETHICS

POINTS TO POTENTIAL "COVER-UP" OVER STAFFING FLAP . . . STEM CELL DONATION

***UPDATED . . . STEELMAN RESPONDS: "It was a clerical error . . ."

WILL DONATE $1275 TO MISSOURI BAPTIST CHILDREN'S HOME

Sarah Steelman's campaign for Governor acknowledged it made an error by not reporting a campaign contribution from a pro-embryonic stem cell research group. Spokesperson Spence Jackson said the campaign would immediately send the $1275 received from the Supporters of Health Research and Treatments to the Misssouri Baptist Children's Home.

Jackson said the donation in question was uncovered after a "combined campaign effort" to search through all receipts Tuesday. "It was a clerical error," Jackson explained. "It was sent and deposited," he acknowledged. Asked what caused the error, Jackson replied, "it just goes back to a clerical error and wasn't handled correctly."

Before Steelman's campaign acknowledged the error, Kenny Hulshof's campaign for Governor issued the following blistering statement:

Full Statement from Hulshof's Scott Baker Below:

“It is being reported that Sarah Steelman’s campaign deposited a campaign contribution they claimed they never received and failed to legally report to the Missouri Ethics Commission. This comes just weeks after Missourians learned of a potential cover-up in the State Treasurer’s office regarding the work of an official employee on the Steelman campaign.

“This is very disappointing conduct that is unbecoming a governor.

“Sarah Steelman should first become compliant with Missouri election law by correcting her campaign reports on file with the Missouri Ethics Commission. The Steelman campaign should also correct all statements denying reception of this check.

“Some have asked why Kenny Hulshof’s first policy package dealt with ethics and integrity in government. This is why. Only Kenny Hulshof will bring the kind of reform that Jefferson City desperately needs.”

Jackson said these comments from Hulshof's campaign "shows that he's losing the battle of ideas in this campaign." When asked if Steelman has committed to a new policy of refusing to accept campaign contributions from pro-embryonic stem cell groups, Jackson said the focus now would only be on "getting the check to the Missouri Baptist Home."

Jackson said two other unreported donations were unearthed by the campaign Tuesday. He said a $1275 donation from the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce PAC and a $250 donation from F & C bank will be properly reported to the Missouri Ethics Commission, as will the Supporters of Health Research check in question.

Jackson said this clerical error does nothing to devalue Steelman's strong pro-life credentials. Jackson said Steelman has always been against embryonic stem cell research and opposed the ballot initiative in 2006. "She absolutely voted against it and said this at the time," Jackson said.