Sunday, February 11, 2007

Goodman, Champion tops among area senators in receiving gifts from lobbyists


Sen. Norma Champion has a good head start on the 2007 legislative session. With only one month gone, the veteran Springfield Republican has already taken in more in lobbyists' gifts, $479.41, than she did during the first seven months of 2006.

Ms. Champion received gifts from only two lobbyists...with the name of one not included on the report for some reason, as of this morning. It indicated she received $371.53 in meals, food, and beverage from this lobbyist on Jan. 18.


Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mount Vernon, received $372.60, topped by $201.34 in meals, food, and beverage from Brad Thielemier, lobbyist for the Missouri State Troopers Association and $129 in "other" from Catherine Barrie, a lobbyist for the Missouri Bar Association. Those two lobbyists accounted for all of Goodman's gifts. He also received two other meals totaling $20 from Thielemier, both on Jan. 18, and two meals from Ms. Barrie totaling $22.26, both on Jan. 31.

Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, received $229.84 in gifts during January, according to the Ethics Commission documents, topped by $137.39 in meals, food, and beverage Jan. 3 from Patricia Strader, lobbyist for Empire District Electric Company. Nodler received $52.45 for two meals, one on Jan. 10 and the other on Jan. 31 from David C. Hale, lobbyist for the Missouri Hospital Association, and $40 for "printing and publication" from Gary Kremer, lobbyist for the State Historical Society of Missouri.

Sen. Delbert Scott, R-Lowry City, received $132.58 in gifts, topped by a $40 gift from Kimberly Johnson, lobbyist for United Parcel Service.

Each of the four area senators received more gifts than they did in January 2006, with Goodman up from $88.90 to $372.60, Ms. Champion from $83.70 to $479.41, Nodler from $154.40 to $229.84, and Scott from $107.45 to $132.58.

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