Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, has received a higher dollar value of gifts from lobbyists than any other state representative this year, according to Missouri Ethics Commission records.
Stevenson has received $1,172.13 worth of gifts from lobbyists. He is one of only two representatives to crack the $1,000 mark during the first two months of the 2005 legislative session.
More than half of Stevenson's total, $635, is listed as "printing and publication" provided by lobbyists Stephen M. Murrell of the Missouri Bar Association.
Stevenson also received more than $200 from the lobbying firm of Rhoads & Herzog, which promotes a business-centered government. He received $186.08 from Mark J. Rhoads on Jan. 10, and $35.39 from Datra Herzog on Feb. 21. Both expenditures were for "meals, food, and beverage," according to the reports, which do not go into specifics in the on-line version.
Stevenson also received $32.72 from Chris Liese for meals, food, and beverage, on Jan. 5. Liese's clients include Cottonwood Financial and the Isle of Capri Casinos.
Stevenson was not the only area legislator to garner lobbyists' attention. Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Carl Junction, and Rep. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, were both among the top 10 in the state as far as total received from lobbyists, according to the Ethics Commission records.
Richard received $720.81 worth of gifts, with the largest, $120, coming from University of Missouri lobbyist Allen James Snider for entertainment on Jan. 29. Richard received an additional $56 from Snider for the same purpose on Jan. 4. and $100 from Kyna Iman of Missouri Southern State University for meals, food, and beverage on Jan. 10.
Other lobbyists and the amounts provided to Richard included: L. Kent Gaines, Kansas City Chiefs, $44.79, Jan. 5; John E. Bardgett Jr, John Bardgett and Associates and Missouri Association of Rehabilitation, $66.66 on Jan. 10, Gary L. Burton, Gary Burton and Associates, $66.66, meals, food, and beverage, on Jan. 11, Chris Liese, Cottonwood Financial, Isle of Capri Casinos, $67.10, meals, food, and beverage, Jan. 24.
Lobbyists and amounts provided to Hunter include: Robert W. Wilson, Missouri Motor Carriers Association, Missouri Outdoor Advertising, $159.09, meals, food, and beverage, Jan. 10; Russell Gunn, L. S. Hart and Co., $50, meals, food, and beverage, Feb. 8, J. Scott Marrs, Missouri Hospital Association, $112.59, meals, food, and beverage, Feb. 14, William Gamble, Ameristar Casinos, travel, $188.84, Feb. 17.
Ruestman has received $545.47, also ranking among the top in the state, including: $302 from David E. Martin of Empire District Electric Company for meals, food, and beverage on Jan. 10, and $159.09 from Robert W. Wilson of Missouri Motor Cars Association and Missouri Outdoor Advertising for the same thing on the same day.
The other area legislators, Ed Emery, R-Lamar, and Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho, are far down the list in the amount received from lobbyists. Wilson has only received gifts totaling $145 from two lobbyists, according to the Ethics Commission reports, $112.28, classified as "other" from Kelly Gillespie of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, and $32.72, for meals, food, and beverage from Chris Liese of Cottonwood Financial and the Isle of Capri Casino.
Emery has received $179.20 worth of gifts, including $120 for meals, food, and beverage Jan. 10 from Patricia Strader of Empire District Electric Company.