Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Legislators looking for culture seek out lobbyist for tickets

Documents posted earlier this month on the Missouri Ethics Commission website indicate that instead of lobbyists hitting up legislators for offers, sometimes the legislators coming looking for them with their hands out.

The disclosure forms filed by lobbyist William Gamble of the powerful Gamble & Schlemeier firm show four legislators and an assistant to another one solicited either tickets to varying forms of entertainment, including the ballet, or took advantage of a one-night stay at the Ameristar Casino in Kansas City.

As noted in a previous Turner Report post, House Minority Leader Mike Talboy solicited $178 worth of theater tickets from Gamble. That was small change compared to the $912 worth of theater tickets solicited by Rep. Kate Meiners, D-Kansas City, according to the documents.

Rep. MIke Parson, R-Bolivar, received $295.78 worth of theater tickets, Rep. Rachelle Walton Gray, D-St. Louis County, picked up $86 worth of ballet tickets and Tom Hoppe, legislative aide to Sen. Victor Callahan, D-St. Louis, asked for and received $115.22 in travel expenses for the trip to the Ameristar Casino.

Except for the Ameristar Casino trip, which was paid for by the casino, one of Gamble's clients, the other items were split among various Gamble & Schlemeier clients, including the Missouri Dental Association, Missouri Beverage Association, Missouri Railroad Association, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri; Missouri Pharmacy Association, and the Missouri Psychological Association,

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