Andy Blunt: No conflict between lobbying work, father’s Senate campaign

In response this week to pressure about state lobbyist Andy Blunt running his father’s Senate campaign, the younger Blunt told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch there is no conflict of interest between the two roles.

"I lobby in the state of Missouri, not the United States Congress, and there is a clear distinction," he said in a Tuesday phone interview. "Roy Blunt isn't a state lawmaker and doesn't weigh in on state issues."

According to the Post-Dispatch, Democrats have criticized Andy Blunt for running the campaign while simultaneously representing the University of Missouri after recent campus unrest there and for a recently announced contract in which Blunt on Jan. 1 will be executive director of the Missouri Cable Telecommunications Association. Democratic Party spokesman Chris Hayden said the latter was an apparent conflict of interest because Sen. Blunt serves on the Senate Commerce Committee and a subcommittee that oversees cable.

The Blunt campaign would not make Sen. Blunt available for an interview.

Andy Blunt also said he and his father don’t discuss his work for some 35 lobbying clients.
 
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