On the day Rep. Caleb Rowden�s bill to exempt electronic cigarettes from tobacco regulations passed the Missouri House, Reynolds American tobacco company gave his campaign $1,000.

Rowden, R-Columbia, reported the donation yesterday in his quarterly finance report, which showed he had 30 times the money available to his challenger, Democrat Tom Pauley. The bill, which also barred the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, was vetoed by Gov. Jay Nixon on Monday. Nixon cited the exemption from regulation as one of his reasons for vetoing the bill.

In the 44th District, Rowden had $63,807 on hand after raising $15,065 during the three months that ended June 30. The May 12 check from Reynolds was one of four that his campaign received for $1,000, the largest contributions to his fund.

Rowden�s Democratic challenger, Tom Pauley of Hallsville, had $2,187 in the bank on June 30 after raising $6,295 in the quarter. Pauley spent $4,943 as he put his campaign in place.

Pauley, who had urged the veto, supports the ban on sale to minors but sees no reason to treat e-cigarettes differently from tobacco.

�They made a big deal about it to save the children,� Pauley said. �Then why are you giving the tobacco companies a tax break by not wanting to regulate and control it like cigarettes. If you really want to do something, do that, and don�t try to hide those other things in it.�

Rowden said the timing of the donation was a coincidence and he wasn�t aware that the donation, from �RAI Service Company� of Winston-Salem, N.C., was from Reynolds.

�I don�t know that there is any reason to justify that coincidence,� he said. �There is absolutely no connection whatsoever.�

Rowden said he will seek to override Nixon�s veto.

In Boone County�s other contested House race, Republican Chuck Basye reported raising $8,575 in the quarter and $13,517 on hand for his primary contest against Betsy Phillips in the 47th District. Incumbent Rep. John Wright, D-Rocheport, raised $11,303 in the quarter and had $63,042 on hand.

Phillips reported she had raised and spent less than $1,000.

�I am surprised by some of the people who have given me money,� Basye said. �I am just amazed at the willingness of people to surrender those funds.�

Wright, who has used his personal wealth for the majority of his campaign funds, will match or exceed any amount he can raise, Basye said, �but I am going to outwork him,� he said.

Neither Phillips nor Wright returned calls seeking comment.

Legislators and candidates in uncontested districts also reported healthy campaign funds.

Rep. Stephen Webber, D-Columbia, reported raising $7,050 and $42,031 on hand for his re-election in the 46th District. Kip Kendrick, a Democrat unopposed in the 45th District, took in $4,184 and had $9,704 on hand.

Rep. Caleb Jones, R-Columbia, unopposed in the 50th District, received $47,281 and had $62,801 in the bank.