Republicans say Koster should give back money

Nevada, Mo. -- When Missouri State Senator Chris Koster switched allegiance to the Democratic Party it angered many Republicans and they now want the money they donated to Koster returned.

Paul Sloca, communications director for the Missouri Republican Party, said that people are calling party headquarters to complain and demand the money they donated to Koster be returned.

"There are a lot of people upset and want their money back," Sloca said. "It's not just the money either. A lot of people have volunteered, put signs in their yards to help him. It's a slap in the face to these people. If he feels confident that the same people that elected him to his present seat would return him he should resign and run in a special election."

Elisabeth Smith, Koster's spokeswoman, said that people donated to Koster because they shared his values.

"The vast majority of people who donate to Chris Koster do so because they share his vision, not because of the letter after his name," Smith said. "The voters of the 31st district sent Senator Koster to Jefferson City to use his best judgment. He campaigned as a moderate, was elected as a moderate, has voted as a moderate and will continue to serve as a moderate. The main thing that has changed is his party affiliation."

Sloca said that was not the way he, and many others, viewed the situation.

"If I give you $100 to represent my case and you turn around and represent the other guy I should get my money back," Sloca said. "There are a lot of hard feelings because of this. If a stranger punches you in the face, that's bad but when a friend does it that really hurts."

State Representative Barney Fisher said that he knew Koster well and that any move Koster made would have been well thought through.

"I do know Chris well enough to know he doesn't make rash decisions," Fisher said. "I just don't agree with it."

Fisher said that Koster wasn't considered a staunch Republican by others in the party.

"It's well known among Republicans he wasn't the staunchest Republican, he was more to the center than most," Fisher said.

Despite Koster's change Fisher said he didn't think it would affect the outcome of pending legislation.

"As far as issues in the senate, it won't really change the balance of voting in the senate, Chris was already voting the way he will probably continue," Fisher said.

The morning Koster announced his change in party, Jared Craighead, executive director of the Missouri Republican Party, released a statement.

"If I had to guess, Chris will likely quote Winston Churchill to describe his decision saying, 'some men change their party for the sake of their principles; others change their principles for the sake of the party.' But I would remind Chris that Churchill also remarked on the occasion of a party switch that it was the only instance he could recall of a rat swimming towards a sinking ship -- that sentiment seems particularly applicable in this case," the statement quoted.

"Simply stated, Chris has done the political calculus and does not believe he can win a Republican primary and does not believe that Jeff Harris is a formidable opponent."

Cass County Presiding Commissioner Gary Mallory, Harrisonville, will serve as treasurer for Missourians for Koster according to a filing with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

On Aug. 1, the day he announced his switch, Koster told the Associated Press that he has determined that he is more aligned with Democrats than Republicans on several issues, including stem cell research, workers' rights, minimum wage and leaving intact Missouri's current judiciary system.

''Today, Republican moderates are all but extinct. On so many of the critical issues of our day it has been Democrats and not Republicans who have stood by my side,'' Koster said at a n Aug. 1 news conference held at the University of Missouri-Columbia.