Tribune Blog: Bearden joins lobbying firm

It wasn't the Show-Me Institute as political observers throughout the state had predicted, but it was about as close to it as you can get.
Jason Rosenbaum in the Columbia Tribune Political Blog reports that former House Speaker Pro Tem Carl Bearden, R-St. Charles, is joining with lobbyist Travis Brown to form a new company:

Bearden is joining political aide Keith Kirk at Pelopidas, LLC, a new firm set up by Travis Brown and his wife Rachel Keller Brown. The agency is set to focus on "issue advocacy, non-profit fundraising, capital campaign development, and government & public affairs."

"Pelopidas, LLC is honored to have a tremendous expert in state government and issue leadership as part of our new team," said Travis Brown in a statement. "Carl brings a tremendous depth and dimension of experience to key issues like education, taxes, and budget matters."

The Browns — who are married — will maintain their posts at their respective firms.

Bearden stepped down from his House seat yesterday, ending a decade-and-a-half political career that included experience in county government, a failed statewide run, chairmanship of the House Budget Committee and the position of House Speaker Pro Tem.

Missouri Ethics Commission documents indicate Bearden has accepted $689.45 worth of gifts from his new partner, Travis Brown, in 2007, including a two-day spree on April 14 and 15 in which Brown, purportedly representing Missourians for a Better Economy, an organization formed in January, paid $150 for "baseball", and another $164 for "baseball" plus $150 for "meals, food, and beverage" the following day.

Though Bearden's new job is not with the Show-Me Institute, there appears little doubt that he will be advocating educational vouchers, considering that much of his 2007 legislation was focused in that direction...and considering the fact that Travis Brown is lobbyist for Rex Sinquefield, the billionaire who foots the bill for the Show-Me Institute.

It is almost impossible to tell what interest Brown was representing since all of his gifts to Bearden either came from the Brown Lobby Firm or from Missourians for a Better Economy. As noted in the March 3 Turner Report, former Rep. Mark Wright, R-Springfield signed on to represent two clients. One was the Missouri State Chiropractors Association; the other was listed Brown Lobby Firm/Missourians for a Better Economy.
Wright is no longer lobbying for any of those concerns as of May 4, according to Ethics Commission documents.