Wednesday, January 20, 2010

St. Louis, KC Democrats on special ethics committee raking in gifts from lobbyists

You can't blame Rep. Gina Walsh for wanting to be there when her St. Louis Cardinals played host to the All-Star Game last summer.

The St. Louis Democrat not only was there for the game, which was sadly, another National League loss, but she also attended the Home Run Derby, featuring Cardinal first baseman Albert Pujols the previous day.

The cost of attending the two events was $880 (two tickets for each). Rep. Walsh did not pay a cent.

Missouri Ethics Commission documents show that Matthew A. Forck, a lobbyist for the power company Ameren UE, covered the costs for Rep. Walsh...who happens to a be a member of the Utilities Committee that handles all legislation involving Ameren UE.

The Utilities Committee is not the only committee Rep. Walsh is on. Today, she will have her first meeting as a member of the Special Standing Committee on Government Accountability and Ethics Reform.

Eight of the 12 members of the committee, which was appointed by Speaker of the House Ron Richard, received more than $l,000 worth of lobbyists' gifts during the first 11 months of 2009. Rep. Walsh's total is $4,312.30, according to the Ethics Commission documents.

In addition to the Ameren UE gifts, Rep. Walsh received $250 worth of Cardinals tickets and refreshments April 26 from lobbyist Craig Felzien, representing AT&T, another special interest affected by legislation that comes before her committee.

Lobbyist John Kristan Jones, representing Sprint Nextel, another business with interst in Utilities Committee decisions, footed the bill for $108 worth of entertainment May 8.

The $4,312.30 Rep. Walsh received was more than any of the other members of the special committee, but she had some strong competition.

Rep. Shalon Curls, D-Kansas City, received $3,879.31 worth of gifts during the first 11 months of 2009 (December's figures will be posted on the Ethics Commission website Feb. 1.)

In the month of March alone, Rep. Curls was the recipient of $1,331.10 in lobbyists' gifts, including $250 from David Winton, Pfizer, for pizza and sodas on March 3, $378.30 from John Kristan Jones, Sprint Nextel, for entertainment, $146.69 from Catina Shannon, Ameren UE, for meals, food, and beverage, and $182.81 fron Pfizer's Winton March 25 fo meals, food, and beverage.

The most interesting gift in March was $170 worth of NCAA tickets from lobbyist Bennie Lewis. Lewis' client? None other than another lobbyist William Gamble of the powerful Gamble & Schlemeier firm, which represents Ameristar Casino, Ameren, the city of Kansas City, the Missouri Health Care Association, and the Missouri Residential Care Association, as well as dozens of other clients.

On July 25, Time Warner Cable lobbyist Damon Shelby Porter provided Rep. Curls with $239.25 worth of tickets to see Jamie Foxx, according to the Ethics Commission documents.

Missouri legislators are quick to cry foul when someone mentions the amount of gifts they receive from lobbyists.

"You can't buy my vote for a sandwich," is the oft heard cry.

As I have noted in the past, it is the access, the air of conviviality, and above all the easy supply of campaign contributions lobbyists provide when it comes time to run for re-election that contribute to the aroma that lingers around these practices.

When the special committee that has been appointed by Ron Richard to deal with ethics issues includes people who are a part of the problem, why should we hope that anything will change in Jefferson City?

(More to come)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It amazes me for the amount of food these people get that they all don't weigh 300lbs. They must eat like kings every meal. Then to be fed by the very people they are meeting about and whether or not they should continue to receive these meals is the height of stupidity. And they wonder why the people would think they can be bought for a sandwich. The last I knew I don't pay $250 a meal for a sandwich.