Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder’s suggestion that elected officials should be barred from working side jobs as political consultants is right on target.

But he certainly is late getting the shot off.
The state’s second-highest elected official has been silent for more than two years while House Speaker Rod Jetton solicited business in the capital for his consulting firm.

The situation has reeked of conflict.
Jetton, a Republican from Marble Hill, Mo., has a powerful role in determining the fate of legislation. He shouldn’t have been seeking business or receiving paychecks from fellow lawmakers.

Kinder, also a Republican, now says Jetton’s work has been a “large pebble in my shoe,” but he didn’t want to distract the legislature by making an issue of it.

Please. Jetton’s moonlighting activities were the distraction. Kinder, who is seeking reelection, would have done the public a service by calling attention to that pebble.

As it is, his reform proposal comes as a sequel to one already suggested by state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, who is running for governor. She proposed a ban on elected officials serving as political consultants last week.

Still, better late than never.

Regardless of which candidates prevail in November, the legislature next session should ban its members from doing paid political work during their terms of office.