May 18 was the last day of the Missouri legislative session and it was a big one for Rep. Shannon Cooper, R-Clinton.
Cooper, whose member biography on the House website notes was an Eagle Scout, apparently earned one of his merit badges in freebie-grabbing.
Cooper, you might remember, was probably the most steadfast foe of the minimum wage increase approved by Missouri voters in 2006. He even filed legislation attempting to get the law repealed.
While he showed little concern for those at the bottom of the food chain, Cooper apparently had little problem accepting expensive gifts from lobbyists.
On the final day of the legislative session, Cooper accepted five $69 tickets to the May 18 Kenny Chesney concert at the Mizzou Sports Arena from MU lobbyist Stephen Knorr, but he also accepted travel and lodging totaling $329.43 from powerhouse lobbyist Jorgen Schlemeier of the firm of Gamble and Schlemeier, which represents Ameristar Casinos.
Ethics Commission documents indicate Cooper accepted gifts totaling $674.23 from the two lobbyists.
When Missourians voted to raise the minimum wage to $6.50 per hour, that insured workers they would at least receive $260 a week, or $13,520 a year.
In just a few moments, Rep. Shannon Cooper, an elected official who receives more than $30,000 annually, accepted gifts that amounted to more than two weeks of pay for those earning the minimum wage.
In fact, during the first five months of 2007, Cooper, who was in fourth place in The Turner Report's Hall of Shame raked in $2,614.42 in gifts, or more than two and a half months of salary for someone making minimum wage.
The Ethics Commission documents show Cooper accepted $1,008.90 worth of gifts in slightly more than three weeks in May, including another $134.26 for travel and lodging from Schlemeier on May 5.
The documents show Cooper had six meals in May with Nancy Giddens, lobbyist for numerous interests, including Eli Lilly, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Hallmark Cards, Phillip Morris, and Verizon, totaling $126.20.
Cooper has already received picked up over $600 more in lobbyists' gifts in 2007 than he received in 2006, and there are still seven months left to be recorded.
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