Tilley critical of Spence gifts to lawmakers

ST. LOUIS -- Missouri House Speaker Steven Tilley is accusing fellow Republican Dave Spence of hypocrisy for his habit of doling out sports tickets to lawmakers in his bid to become governor.

Spence is seeking the GOP nomination to run against incumbent Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon in November. Though a political novice, Spence is a successful businessman who sold his container business for more than $200 million.

As part of his campaign, Spence is urging lawmakers to stop accepting perks from lobbyists.

Tilley told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/LWqI4v ) that Spence is being hypocritical since he regularly provides legislators with tickets to events such as Rams and Blues games.

Spence's campaign said in a statement that the tickets are minor compared with the big money that flows from donors to political campaign.