Richard, Hunter gobble up MU football tickets

The resurgence of the University of Missouri football team, which plays Oklahoma for the Big 12 title tonight, put tickets for home games this season at a premium. For everyone, that is, except Missouri legislators, who could always count on MU lobbyists to give them a free ride.
Lobbyists' reports posted today on the Missouri Ethics Commission website indicate MU lobbyists Allen James Snider, Erin Elliott, Stephen Knorr, and Martin Oetting doled out $9,593.50 worth of tickets to the Tigers' three October home games to representatives, senators, and staff members.
That figure included six tickets, worth $390 total to Speaker of the House designate Ron Richard, R-Joplin, to the Oct. 6- Missouri-Nebraska game. Richard's fellow Joplin Republican representative, Steve Hunter, picked up four tickets, worth $260.

The top recipient of the MU lobbyists' early Christmas presents was Rep. Martin Rucker, D-St. Joseph, who received eight tickets, worth $520, from lobbyist Erin Elliott for the Nebraska game, four tickets from Allen James Snider for the Oct. 27 game with Kansas State, and four tickets from Martin Oetting for the Oct. 20 Texas Tech game. Carla Luebbert of Rucker's staff also received four tickets for the Oct. 6 game and four tickets for the Oct 27 game. Rucker's son, Martin II, of course, is a standout starter for the Mizzou offense.

Those listed as receiving tickets from Ms. Elliott for the Nebraska game ($65 per ticket) were:

Representatives- Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, $260; Dr. Charles Portwood, R-Ballwin, $260; Ron Richard, R-Joplin, $390; Martin Rucker, D-St. Joseph, $520; Ray Salva, D-Kansas City, $325; Mike Sutherland, R-Warrenton, $260.

Senators- Robert Mayer,R-Dexter, $130

Staff Members- Chris Roepe, Sen. Charles Shields, R-St. Joseph's staff, $130; Eric Feltner, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder's staff, $260; Kay Fitzpatrick, Speaker of the House Rod Jetton's staff, $195

Those receiving tickets from Knorr for the Oct. 6 game were:

Representatives- Judy Baker, D-Columbia, $195; Michael Corcoran, D-St. Ann, $130; Bruce Darrough, D-Florissant, $130; Jeff Harris, D-Columbia, $65; Steve Hobbs, R-Mexico, $390; Steve Hodges, D-East Prairie, $260; Kate Meiners, D-Kansas City, $130; Vicki Schneider, R-O'Fallon, $130; Michael Spreng, D-Florissant, $260; Dennis Wood, R-Kimberling City, $260

Senators- John Griesheimer, R-Washington, $65

Staff Members- Carla Luebbert, Rep. Martin Rucker's staff, $260; Janson Thomas, Sen. Tim Green, D-Florissant's staff, $195; Tom Hoppe, Sen. Vic Callahan, D-Independence's staff, $130

Receiving tickets from Snider for the Oct. 27 game ($50 per ticket) were:

Representatives- Bill Deeken, R-Jefferson City, $100; Jeff Grisamore, R-Lee's Summit, $100; Steve Hodges, D-East Prairie, $50; Sam Komo, D-House Springs, $200; Mike McGhee, R-Odessa, $200; Martin Rucker, D-St. Joseph, $200; Don Ruzicka, R-Mount Vernon, $200; Ed Schieffer, D-Troy, $200; Vicki Schneider, R-O'Fallon, $100; Michael Vogt, D-St. Louis, $100

Staff Members- Carla Luebbert, Rep. Martin Rucker's staff, $200; Kay Fitzpatrick, Speaker of the House Rod Jetton's staff, $200; Larry Parker, House of Representatives staff, $100; Rita Clarkson, Rep. Brian Nieves, R-Union's staff, $200


Receiving tickets from Oetting for the Oct. 20 game with Texas Tech ($55 per ticket) were:

Representatives- Ron Richard, R-Joplin, $110; Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, $165; Martin Rucker, R-St. Joseph, $220; Charles Schlottach, R-Owensville, $220; Vicki Schneider, R-O'Fallon, $110; Brian Yates, R-Lee's Summit, $220