By Joe Hadsall
Globe columnist
May and June were interesting months with regard to lobbyists’ gift reports.
With the legislative session ending in May, many of our area legislators received little attention in June. Several, in fact, did not receive a thin dime in June, according to lobbyists’ reports.
The only exceptions were Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, and Speaker-elect Ron Richard, R-Joplin.
Richard’s May total was outpaced by his June total, $186.67 to $153.27, making him the top gift-receiver in June among area legislators.
May’s top receiver was Rep. Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, gifts to whom totaled $505.22 during the month.
n Rep. Ed. Emery, R-Lamar, received $165.62 in lobbyist gifts in May, including $26.39 for a ball game from Sandy Howard, who represents the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.
He also received a $35 dinner from Missouri Southern State University lobbyist Kyna Iman, and a $31.35 dinner from lobbyist Larry G. Cole, who represents Cornerstone Health, of Rogers, Ark.
The $35 expenditure from Iman shows up on all area legislators’ reports, stemming from a May 7 dinner.
Emery did not receive any gifts in June.
n Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, received $412.42 in lobbyist gifts in May and June combined, including a $21 meal from Cole. Hunter’s May total was $382.07. His June total was $30.35.
His biggest gift was a $142.56 meal from Phillip Schnieders, who represents the Missouri Auto Dealers’ Association. He also received a $53.35 meal from Samuel G. Licklider, who has eight clients, including Empire District Electric Co., the Missouri Association of Realtors and the Cigar Association of America.
n Richard received a total of $339.94 in lobbyist gifts in the two months, including a $40 ticket to watch the St. Louis Cardinals from Calvin W. Call, who represents the Missouri Insurance Coalition.
His biggest gift, a $55.97 meal, came from Rodney Boyd, who represents 16 entities, including the St. Louis mayor’s office, Las Vegas-based Pinnacle Entertainment and Time-Warner Cable. Boyd bought two more meals for Richard in June, valued at $44.30 and $38.50.
n Rep. Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin, received $58.92 in lobbyist gifts in May. Her biggest gift was the $35 Iman meal. Lobbyists reported no gifts to Ruestman in June.
n Stevenson received $505.22 from lobbyists in May, and none in June. Reports show $390 came from lobbyist Jorgan Schlemeier, who represents an impressive list of 58 clients. Wal-Mart, Ameristar Casinos, Missouri American Water Co. and Ameren/UE are on Schlemeier’s client list. On May 2, Schlemeier gave Stevenson $100 in entertainment certificates, $50 for meals and $240 for hotel accommodations. The report didn’t specify a location for any of the expenses.
n Rep. Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho, received $101.30 in May and nothing in June from lobbyists. His biggest gift was a $51.09 meal from Robert W. Wilson, who represents nine clients, including the Missouri Motor Carriers’ Association, Missouri Outdoor Advertising Association and the Missouri Association of Cosmetology Schools.
n Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mount Vernon, received $172.01 in May, and nothing in June from lobbyists. His biggest gift, $69.69 worth of office beverages, came from Nancy L. Giddens, who represents Hallmark Cards and the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to the $35 Iman meal, he received another $40 meal from Iman.
n Lobbyist reports for Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, would suggest that in May he lost money from lobbyist gifts.
Lobbyist Danielle O’Neill mistakenly reported a $100 meal spent on Nodler. She corrected the report in June. Combined with other gifts, the report for Nodler suggests, at first glance, he received -$46.87 from lobbyists in May.
Nodler actually received $53.13 in gifts in May. The biggest gift was the $35 Iman meal.
He received $75.26 in gifts in June, including a $40 Cardinals ticket from Call, and $26.39 from Howard for another baseball game.
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Joe Hadsall: Reports cite lobbyists’ gifts to area lawmakers
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