JEFFERSON CITY - “I commend the Missouri Senate for working quickly to confirm my appointment of Kevin Gunn as the newest commissioner of the Public Service Commission,” Gov. Blunt said today, “Appointments to the Public Service Commission are among the most important that a governor can make, and I am confident that Kevin Gunn will be a fair and conscientious commissioner.”

However, it wasn’t until he donated $44,000 to various Democrat Committees that the Senate approved on a voice vote Gunn’s appointment to serve as a Commissioner on the Public Service Commission. Democrats had previously filibustered consideration of his nomination. Upset with his decision to accept the appointment rather than run for the senate seat vacated by Michael Gibbons, R-Kirkwood, Democrats delayed the vote until after the donations from his campaign committee cleared the bank.

“It’s time for Democrats to end their ethically-challenged, business-as-usual approach to governing. It’s very telling that Senate Democrats were willing to hold a member of their own Party hostage for campaign cash rather than honestly evaluating what was best for Missourians,” said Jared Craighead, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party.

Governor Blunt appointed Kevin Gunn to the Public Service Commission on March 13. Mr. Gunn, 37, of Webster Groves, works as an attorney at Sonnenschien, Nath and Rosenthal. He previously served as chief of staff for former Rep. Richard Gephardt.