By Max McCoy
Globe Investigative Writer
A Missouri House bill to prevent lobbyists from wining and dining informal legislative caucuses without disclosing the names of the lawmakers involved would dramatically change the way lobbyists for Empire District Electric Co. and others do business in Jefferson City.
The bill, sponsored by House Majority Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, has been sent to the Senate and, with only a week left in the session, may be the Legislature's last chance to pass any type of campaign reform this year.
A Senate campaign reform bill that would remove limits on political contributions has stalled in the House.
Empire District has spent $13,455 on lobbying since 2003, according to a Globe review of disclosure reports on file with the Missouri Ethics Commission. The biggest year was 2003, when lobbyists spent $7,384 on behalf of the Joplin utility. In 2004, the total was $2,688, and in 2005, it was $3,382.
The Southwest Missouri Caucus received the largest total amount since 2003, at $1,686 in food and beverages, followed by the entire General Assembly, at $1,453. The House Republican Caucus received $997; the Communications, Energy and Technology Committee received $827; and the entire Missouri Senate got $781.
Even the Irish Caucus received $200 from Empire in 2003.
Rep. Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin, led the list of individual lawmakers collecting food and beverages, at $503. State Sen. Gary Nodler, another Joplin Republican, received only $53 worth of food and beverages from Empire lobbyists, according to Ethics Commission reports.
But Nodler's chief of staff, Barbara Mustoe, was reported as receiving food and drinks valued at $457.
