Six Democratic legislators, one spouse, wined and dined by casino lobbyist

Documents posted today on the Missouri Ethics Commission website add more information to the July 31 casino junket that ended up with the arrest of Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, on a misdemeanor charge after he tried to use the identification of Rep. Joe Aull, D-Marshall, to gamble.
Smith, Aull, Aull's wife Candee, and four other Democratic legislators, Rep. Judy Baker, D-Columbia, Sen. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, and Sen. Wes Shoemyer, D-Clarence, had their meals and drinks paid for by an Isle of Capri lobbyist, according to the documents, but that lobbyist was not Lynne Schlosser, who allegedly suggested that Smith use Aull's identification. Ms. Schlosser no longer works for Isle of Capri, and does not list any gifts for the month of July.
A total of $910 for "meals, food, and beverage" is listed on the disclosure form filed by Chris Liese, $130 each for the six legislators and Mrs. Aull.
The July junket is far from the only effort Isle of Capri has made to woo Democratic legislators.
Liese's disclosure report for March indicates Isle of Capri spent $1,602.85 for meals, food, and beverage, and $225 for gifts for the House Minority Caucus and like amounts for the Senate Minority Caucus on March 12.
Sen. Smith, as noted in the Aug. 6 Turner Report, has received thousands of dollars of campaign contributions that can be connected to casinos or to their lobbyists.