Hunter pads lobby title

Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, did not report receiving any gifts from lobbyists during the month of July, but then again, he only reported one of his gifts from June during the past week, according to Missouri Ethics Commission.
It wasn't much, but the $18 in "meals, food and beverage" Hunter received from Missouri Southern State University lobbyist Kyna Iman raised his top total for the entire House to $2,494.39. Of course, that amount does not include whatever Hunter receives from the lobbying organization, Associated Industries of Missouri, which employs him as a "membership recruiter." He has not volunteered the information and the president of the organization, former Rep. Gary Marble, R-Neosho, pretty much told people it's none of their business how much an elected official makes while working as a lobbyist in everything but title.
And, as I have pointed out numerous times in The Turner Report, Hunter did not begin his string of pro-business, anti-union bills until after he was on Associated Industries' payroll.
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As far as this area's other elected officials are concerned, three of them, Ed Emery, R-Lamar, Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin, and Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho, deserve credit for maintaining their low amount of lobbyist gifts. The three did not report any for June or July.
Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, added $65 from Kyna Iman, MSSU lobbyist on June 16, the same day reported by Hunter, and $37.25 for "meals, food and beverage" on July 8 from Randy Scherr, who represents a number of interests, including medical, insurance, and banking.
As reported earlier, Ron Richard, R-Joplin, reported one gift, $165 in entertainment from Patrick Keenan Bly,SBC Missouri, which increased his total to $1,636.47, placing him in the top 10 among Missouri House members for most gifts received from lobbyists.
Among state senators, Delbert Scott, R-Lowry City, who has Barton County in his district, had only one gift, $12 for "meals, food and beverage" from Cheryl K. Dillard, lobbyist for Coventry Health Care of Kansas City. Scott, however, did report two gifts for June, including $260 for entertainment from John E. Bardgett, Jr. who lobbies for a number of interests, but who only lists lobbying for his company, Bardgett and Associates, in June. Scott's other gift, $59.80 for entertainment, came from Robert W. Wilson, lobbyist for the Missouri Motor Carriers Association.
Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, reported only one gift in July, $6.50 in "meals, food and beverage" from Kathryn Ann Harness, who represents a number of organizations and companies, including health outfits, architects, Girl Scouts, and beer wholesalers. Nodler has a relatively meager total of gifts from lobbyists, $480.83 for 2005, but as I noted in earlier posts, Nodler has kept that total down by getting more from the lobbyists in cold, hard cash in the form of campaign contributions. An examination of his recent campaign disclosure reports show at least $2,700 in contributions from lobbyists or lobbyists' spouses.
You can check that out at:
http://rturner229.blogspot.com/2005/08/globe-still-missing-boat-on-nodler-and.html