JEFFERSON CITY - A new state reporting slamming Ameren’s numerous failures in the Taum Sauk Reservoir collapse stands in stark contrast to Jay Nixon’s whitewash of the disaster that was paid for with $19,100 in political contributions to Nixon while he was supposed to be investigating the utility.

The independent investigation by the Missouri Public Service Commission found that the collapse was an avoidable accident that resulted from management problems at Ameren, a conclusion that was not reached by Nixon because refused further investigation of the utility beyond a report issued by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Of course, Nixon had at least 19,100 reasons not to do his job as the attorney general. In fact, he still has at least that many reasons to hide from the Ameren contributions since they were actually returned to his campaign coffers after his much-publicized claim that he was giving the dirty money back.

“The PSC report proves conclusively that Jay Nixon had been bought off by Ameren for $19,100 — money that he took while he was supposed to be investigating the utility and money that he kept as a promise to Ameren not to investigate any further,” said Paul Sloca, communications director for the Missouri Republican Party. “Jay Nixon betrayed the people of Missouri and Reynolds County by putting political contributions before justice, a point proven beyond a reasonable doubt by the independent PSC report.”

A review of recent campaign reports shows that Democrat committees never returned their share of the $19,100. In fact, three committees have actually sent $17,800 - almost the entire amount in contributions received - back into Nixon’s pockets.

• The 73 rd District Democratic Legislative Committee, which funneled $4,800 in Ameren money to Nixon in March 2006, never returned the dirty money and donated $6,000 back to Nixon’s committee in December 2006.
• The Lincoln County Democratic Central Committee, which funneled $4,700 in Ameren money to Nixon in March 2006, never returned the dirty money and donated $5,800 back to Nixon’s committee in December 2006.
• The 24 th Senatorial Democratic Committee, which funneled $4,800 in Ameren money to Nixon in March 2006, never returned the dirty money and has donated $6,000 back to Nixon since November 2006.