I’m sure everything is on the up and up…

Ameren Exec: Nixon Camp Asked For
Funds

March 16 2007

The Associated Press

St. Louis — Attorney General Jay Nixon's gubernatorial campaign
asked Ameren Corp. for political donations after Nixon launched a criminal
probe into the utility, according to an Ameren executive. But the executive
said the request was routine and had nothing to do with Nixon's role as
prosecutor in the case.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Thursday quoted Ameren Vice President
Richard Mark saying Nixon's campaign asked Ameren lobbyists to donate money to
four Democratic campaign committees after Nixon became special prosecutor over
the Taum Sauk reservoir collapse.

Mark told the newspaper that Nixon's campaign staff approached the
utility's governmental affairs staff last spring about making the donations to
the Democratic groups.

But Mark added that the solicitation was in line with "common
practice" and didn't involve Nixon or Ameren executives, including
Ameren's top lawyer, Steve Sullivan.

That contradicts statements made by Ed Martin, Gov. Matt Blunt's chief
of staff.

Martin has said Nixon's campaign asked Sullivan — not the
lobbyists — to donate. Martin says Sullivan told him about the request
during a meeting.