MU picks up tab for speaker-elect Richard, Graham other legislators to attend publicity session

When the University of Missouri put on a two-day program designed to show off its virtues, one of those who allowed the university to pick up the fare was Speaker of the House-elect Ron Richard, R-Joplin.
Missouri Ethics Commission documents indicate Richard received $468.01 worth of lobbyists' gifts during November...with all of that coming from Gordon Lamb, MU lobbyist, and at the time, the university's interim president.
The occasion was a two-day session of Missouri 100, an advisory group of influential Missourians who were chosen because of their ability to spread the message about the university. According to MU student newspaper, The Maneater:

Lamb said members of The Missouri 100 are influential people who could help spread the university’s message.

Members of the group are required to donate or raise at least $1,000 to fund the group’s activities, according to a UM system news release.

“You begin by looking at people who are already supporting the university,” Lamb said. “We’re looking for those very top leaders.”

The membership list includes a number of CEOs and corporate presidents. It also includes members of the UM system Board of Curators, the university’s governing board, who serve on the group as ex-officio members. Members of The Missouri 100 must be invited by the UM system president to participate.

The Ethics Commission vote shows that Lamb provided Richard with the following:

-$144.56 for "Hotel for Missouri 100" on Nov. 9
-$144.56 for "Hotel for Missouri 100" on Nov. 10
-$69.80 for meals, food, and beverage Nov. 9
-$9.09 for a Missouri 100 reception Nov. 9

And, of course, what collection of gifts from an MU lobbyist would be complete without football tickets. The Ethics Commission records show Richard received two tickets worth $100 from Lamb Nov. 10.

Lamb also spent $69.80 for meals, food, and beverage for Richard's wife, Patty.

Lamb spent $1,715.22 on the event, according to the Ethics Commission document. Among those who attended the two-day lovefest on the lobbyist's dime were: Sen. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, Rep. Judy Baker, R-Columbia, Mrs. Baker's husband John, Rep. Allen Icet, R-Wildwood, and Rep. Steven Tilley, R-Perryville, and Sen. Rob Mayer.

Richard, Icet, Graham, and Ms. Baker accepted two football tickets each, worth $100, according to the documents, while Mayer and Tilley latched onto three worth $150.