Opinion Letter No. 71-75
Contents of letter
February 4, 1975
Honorable Fred Williams
Representative, District 78
House Post Office
State Capitol Building
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
Dear Representative Williams:
This is in response to your request for an opinion from this office as follows:
"I question the legality of the mayor of the city of St. Louis using a civil service employee to act as a lobbyist for the city of St. Louis to lobby before the 78th General Assembly."
The first question to be considered is whether it is legal for the City of St. Louis to use public funds for the purpose of supporting or opposing legislative proposals before the state legislature on matters affecting the interest of the City of St. Louis. We are enclosing herewith Opinion No. 167 issued July 10, 1969, to Honorable Robert H. Branom, in which it is stated that public funds of a school district could be used to employ and compensate a person to take part in support or in opposition to legislation of matters pending before the legislature affecting the interest of the school district.
In answer to your question whether it is legal for the mayor of St. Louis City to use a civil service employee to act as a lobbyist before the General Assembly, we find no statute prohibiting such activities.
Very truly yours,
John C. Danforth
Attorney General