JEFFERSON CITY - Now that Jay Nixon has been crowned the tax and spend liberal candidate for Democrats in 2008, will his New Year’s resolution be to violate the spirit of Missouri’s new campaign finance law by using a loophole to fill his campaign coffers? Since Nixon has arrogantly told Missourians and the media that his plans are none of their business, what will happen between January 1 and January 3 is anyone’s guess.

The question of whether Nixon will accept contributions during a two-day window in state law that allows statewide elected officials and members of the General Assembly to accept unlimited contributions immediately before session begins has increased significance now that Robin Carnahan and Joe Maxwell have timidly stepped aside in the sweepstakes for the Democrat nomination for governor.

When asked by The St. Louis Post-Dispatch back on December 12 whether he would take contributions before the legislative session opens, Nixon smugly remarked: "I don’t talk to the press about my fundraising strategy." Nixon, who has often claimed to be a champion of openness in state government, was a vocal opponent of the campaign finance reform legislation that allows for greater public scrutiny of Missouri’s campaign finance system.

“Jay Nixon’s New Year’s resolution should be to be honest with Missourians and the media and say unequivocally whether he’ll abide by the spirit of the law and refuse to take political contributions during the two-day loophole. Nixon didn’t want to talk this year about the $19,000 in backdoor contributions he took from Ameren while he was investigating the utility but maybe he’ll put aside his arrogance and come clean in 2007 about what he intends to do about the loophole,” said Paul Sloca, communications director for the Missouri Republican Party. “Unfortunately, as the newly crowned tax and spend Democrat liberal candidate for governor, Nixon’s arrogance may be such that he’ll choose to fill his pockets with campaign cash instead of doing the honorable thing and acknowledging the spirit of the law.”