Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Smith turns to lobbyist for help with misdemeanor charge


A lobbyist-sponsored junket ended in a misdemeanor charge against Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, and according to Pettis County Circuit Court records he is looking to a lobbyist to defend him against that charge.

Joe Bednar, a longtime Missouri Democratic Party powerhouse, is listed as Smith's attorney. Bednar, a partner with the powerful Armstrong Teasdale firm, served as chief counsel to Governors Mel Carnahan and Roger Wilson...and is also a registered lobbyist representing Ameren UE, Centene Corporation, St. Louis University, Devry, and BJC Health Systems, as well as Armstrong Teasdale.

It would appear Smith is well aware of how damaging a charge like this, misdemeanor though it may be, could be to what appears to be a promising political career.

More information about the charges against Smith, Rep. Joe Aull, D-Marshall, and lobbyist Lynne Schlosser can be found in the Sept. 25 Turner Report.
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2 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:16 PM

    List of Education Lobbyist paid for by taxpayer's money not ever mentioned by RT. Apparently if they are lobbyist for entities he agrees with they are OK. Any other lobbyist organization, forget about it!


    MISSOURI NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
    Phone 1:
    JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65101-4174
    Address 1:
    Address 2:
    C/S/Z:
    573 634-3202 Phone 2:
    1810 EAST ELM STREET
    Lobbyist(s)
    Simmons, Ben Principal was entered on: 2/16/2006 11:56:08AM
    Smith, Charles E. Principal was entered on: 9/18/2007 2:11:40PM
    Guinther, Chris Principal was entered on: 10/1/2001 10:18:39AM
    Aull, DeeAnn Principal was entered on: 3/2/2001 8:36:59AM
    Pullen, Florence Principal was entered on: 7/26/2005 9:37:25AM
    Medley, Leila C Principal was entered on: 1/2/2001 11:48:20AM
    Fajen, Otto Principal was entered on: 5/6/2005 10:24:20AM
    McLuckie, Steve Principal was entered on: 7/5/2001 2:27:44PM

    DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
    Phone 1:
    JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65102
    Address 1:
    Address 2:
    C/S/Z:
    (573)751-3563 Phone 2: ()-
    205 JEFFERSON
    PO BOX 480
    Lobbyist(s)
    King, D Kent Principal was entered on: 1/5/2001 3:20:58PM
    Ogle, Gerri Principal was entered on: 6/4/2001 11:41:05AM
    Lieberman, Heidi Atkins Principal was entered on: 1/8/2007 8:20:34PM

    MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
    Phone 1:
    JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65102-0480
    Address 1:
    Address 2:
    C/S/Z:
    (573) 526-2572 Phone 2: (573) 751-3503
    205 JEFFERSON STREET
    PO BOX 480
    Lobbyist(s)
    Bertels, Amber Principal was entered on: 11/9/2004 1:43:48PM
    Loyd, C. Jeanne Principal was entered on: 3/11/2004 2:28:35PM
    Brown, Charles R. Principal was entered on: 8/21/2003 3:17:18PM
    Ogle, Gerri Principal was entered on: 3/11/2004 2:53:57PM
    VanZandt, Mark Allan Principal was entered on: 12/20/2000 9:36:11AM
    Headrick, Nancy Principal was entered on: 3/12/2004 7:49:00AM
    Schulte, Norbert H Principal was entered on: 3/12/2004 1:54:10PM
    Villmer, Rich Principal was entered on: 1/3/2001 1:22:36PM
    LePage, Shari Principal was entered on: 12/8/2000 10:30:58AM
    Quinn, Thomas W. Principal was entered on: 1/8/2007 8:17:56PM

    MISSOURI FEDERATION OF TEACHERS &SCHOOL RELATED PERSONNEL
    Phone 1:
    JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65101
    Address 1:
    Address 2:
    C/S/Z:
    (573)634-2115 Phone 2: ()-
    227 JEFFERSON
    Lobbyist(s)
    Gifford, Luana Principal was entered on: 2/16/2003 9:22:23AM

    MISSOURI STATE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
    Phone 1:
    COLUMBIA, MO 65205
    Address 1:
    Address 2:
    C/S/Z:
    573-442-3127 Phone 2:
    PO BOX 458
    407 SOUTH 6TH STREET
    Lobbyist(s)
    Hull, Angela M. Principal was entered on: 9/2/2004 3:31:42PM
    McCray, Gail Willis Principal was entered on: 9/3/2004 11:22:21AM
    Lorts, Melissa Principal was entered on: 9/2/2004 3:34:44PM
    Wood, Michael R Principal was entered on: 12/8/2000 11:03:17AM

    MISSOURI SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION
    Phone 1:
    COLUMBIA, MO 65203
    Address 1:
    Address 2:
    C/S/Z:
    (573)445-9920 Phone 2: ()-
    2100 I-70 DRIVE SW
    Lobbyist(s)
    Ward, Carter Principal was entered on: 1/24/2001 12:56:00PM
    Straub, J Chris Principal was entered on: 12/7/2000 3:25:45PM
    Randol, Melissa Principal was entered on: 1/24/2001 12:53:14PM
    Reid, Michael C Principal was entered on: 7/6/2006 1:53:57PM

    ReplyDelete
  2. If Smith had hired a lobbyist for any of those organizations, I would have printed the story and included the information. I don't recall right offhand having written any stories about lobbyists for the education organizations, but I have written numerous times about campaign contributions from the education community.

    ReplyDelete