Nodler more than doubles lobbyist gifts

More than half of the gifts State Senator Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, has received from lobbyists have come since the conclusion of the 2005 legislative session, according to Missouri Ethics Commission documents.
Nodler had received $474.83 in gifts when the session ended. His total now stands at $998.33, including more gifts in September, $478.50, than he received during the first five months of the calendar year.
Information posted this week to the Ethics Commission website shows Nodler receiving $240 for entertainment on Sept. 8 from lobbyist John E. Bardgett Jr. The lobbyists' disclosure forms are not released until later in the month to give the legislators a chance to review them, so there is no way of telling just who Bardgett was representing, but his earlier filings indicate most of them are for his own lobbying firm, Bardgett and Associates.
Nodler also recorded $238.50 for meals, food and beverage from David Klarich, whose clients include Southwestern Bell.
As I pointed out in the Aug. 7 Turner Report, even though the amount of gifts Nodler had received from lobbyists at that time was low, he was milking the cash cow in other ways.
A review of campaign committee disclosure forms on file with the Missouri Ethics Commission, shows that in the past year Nodler has received $2,100 in contributions from registered lobbyists and another $600 from a lobbyist's wife.
The most recent disclosure form, from July, shows Nodler receiving the following amounts from lobbyists:
-$6oo from Mark Rhoads, who among other clients, represents the Missouri Riverboat Gaming Association, AT&T, and the Insurance Coalition.
-$150 from J. Scott Marrs, who lists the Missouri Hospital Association, city of Springfield, Southwest Missouri State University, Bass Pro, Springfield Public Schools, and Springfield City Utilities among his clients.
-$150 from Gary Sharpe, lobbyist for Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals, Missouri Association of School Administrators, and Missouri Council of School Administrators.
-$250 from Penman & Winton, a lobbying firm. Lobbyists Scott Penman and David Winton represent Southwestern Bell (SBC) and BSC Healthcare Systems.
-$250 from Burch & Associates, the lobbying firm operated by former State Rep. Jerry Burch, who represents Missouri Hospital Association, Southwest Missouri State University, Greene County Commission, Springfield City Utilities, and the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.
-$150 from Kyna Iman, lobbyist for Missouri Southern State University
-$100 from Douglas Burnett, who represents the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Missouri Motor Carriers Association, and Boone County
-$100 from William E. Shoehigh, lobbyist for the Apollo Group, Dell, and Microsoft
During the October 2004 filing, Nodler received $175 from Iman, $175 from The Swain Group, a lobbying firm that represents Citizens Healthcare Association, Kansas City Chiefs, Missouri Energy Corp., and CenturyTel.
During that time period, Nodler also received the maximum $600 from Sharon Beshore, wife of Lance Beshore, a registered lobbyist for Leggett & Platt.
Those contributions were among the $51,970.34 Nodler had in his campaign war chest,at the time of the last disclosure report.
For a thorough examination of Nodler's campaign finances, take a glance at the Aug. 7 Turner Report posting.