Smith, Aull, Schlosser waive arraigment, plead not guilty

Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, Rep. Joseph Aull, D-Kansas City and former Isle of Capri lobbyist Lynne Schlosser waived their formal arraignments Tuesday in Cooper County Circuit Court, and pleaded not guilty to charges connected with Smith's use of Aull's identification, at Ms. Schlosser's behest during a July 31 junket at the Isle of Capri in Boonville.
As noted in the Sept. 25 Turner Report:

Smith, Aull, Aull's wife Candee, Sen. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, Sen. Wes Shoemyer, D-Clarence, Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, and Rep. Judy Baker, D-Columbia, were having a night out on the town at the expense of a lobbyist representing a special interest with a stake in numerous bills that will come before the legislature during the 2008 session.

Chris Liese, a former state representative from St. Louis, and now a lobbyist for Isle of Capri spent $910 wining and dining the legislators and Mrs. Aull on July 31, according to Missouri Ethics Commission documents. Sadly, this kind of occurrence is so commonplace that the media simply does not care, or more likely, has failed to do their research. A total of $130 was spent on "meals, food, and beverage" for each person, the documents indicate.

The next hearing for Smith, Aull, and Ms. Schlosser will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28.