Lobbyists give Hunter more than rest of area legislators combined

Only two months of lobbyist disclosure forms have been filed for 2006, but already Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, has picked up $1,188.54 in gifts, more than in the first two months of 2004 and 2005. In those years, Hunter collected $1,059 and $528.19.
February disclosure forms filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission, show Hunter received $424.40 worth of gifts during the month. The top amount, $196 for "entertainment" on Feb. 11 came from Jorgen Schlemeier, whose clients included Ameristar Casinos, Ameren UE, the Missouri Pharmacy Association, and the Missouri Beverage Association.
Hunter also received the following amounts:
-$40.13 for meals, food and beverage, Feb. 2, Richard C. Wiles, Missouri Cable Telecommunications Association
-$57.74 for meals, food and beverage, Feb. 2, Jewell Patek, Patek & Associates, Sprint Nextel
-$9 for meals, food and beverage, Feb. 7, James W. Kistler, Associated Industries of Missouri (Hunter is also an employee of Associated Industries, a lobbying firm, working as a membership recruiter.)
-$9.83 for meals, food and beverage, Feb. 14, Guy William Black, Bryan Cave LLP, Transcanada Corp.
-$7.50 for meals, food and beverage, Feb. 15, James E. Farrell, Missouri Coalition for Preservation and Economic Development, Center for Emerging Technologies, several St. Louis interests. The $7.50 from Farrell makes $390.50 worth of gifts Hunter has accepted from the lobbyist. On Jan. 27, he accepted $375 for three listings of "entertainment." Hunter also had an $9 meal from Farrell on Jan. 9.
-$11.06, meals, food and beverage, Michael Dallmeyer, American Insurance Association
-$78.24, meals, food and beverage, Wiles
-$15, meals, food and beverage, James Wallace Knowles, Independent Electrical Contractors Association of Greater St. Louis
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Hunter's total of $1,188.54 was more than our five other area legislators, Ed Emery, R-Lamar, Ron Richard, R-Joplin, Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin, Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, and Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho, combined. Those five, led by Stevenson's $507.09, combined for $1.089.77 in lobbyists' gifts during the first two months.
Ed Emery- Emery did not receive any gifts from lobbyists in February and only received $26.50 in January, according to Ethics Commission records.
Ron Richard- Ethics Commission documents show $413.24 in gifts for Richard, including $168.06 in February. The top amount was $41.16 for meals, food and beverage on Feb. 13 from Chris Liese, former State Rep. Gary Burton's lobbying partner. Liese's clients include Missouri Cable Telecommunications Association, the city of Joplin, and Isle of Capri casinos. Richard also received $27.10 for meals, food and beverage from David Martin of Empire District Electric Company on Feb. 14.
Marilyn Ruestman- Ms. Ruestman, like Emery, did not receive any gifts from lobbyists in February, according to the documents.
Kevin Wilson- Wilson only received $35.19 for meals, food and beverage from Robert Wilson, Missouri Outdoor Advertising Association, Missouri Association of Sheltered Workshop Managers, and Missouri Motor Carriers Association.
Bryan Stevenson- Stevenson reported $425 for the month, with most of that, $400, coming from Catherine Barrie, Missouri Bar Association on Feb. 14 for printing and publication and $23 the same day for meals, food and beverage from Kyna Iman, lobbyist for Missouri Southern State University.