Hubbard, Cooper top Turner Report Hall of Shame

Talk about your multi-talented state representatives.
Entertainment, travel, meals, Rep. Rodney Hubbard, D-St. Louis, does it all, and is raking in lobbyists' gifts at an impressive pace. In fact, at the end of August he had already received $4,434.70 worth, or nearly $1,000 more than his nearest competitor, Shannon Cooper, R-Clinton, who had $3,463.30.

That mammoth figures places Hubbard, a state senate candidate, atop The Turner Report Hall of Shame. Trailing Hubbard and Cooper were:

3. Michael Spreng, D-Florissant, $3,387.37
4. Mike Talboy, D-Kansas City, $3,033.54
5. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, $2,899.76
6. Ted Hoskins, D-Berkeley, $2,836.10
7. Jim Lembke, R-St. Louis, $2,732.69
8. Connie Johnson, D-St. Louis, $2,627.43
9. Neal St. Onge, R-Ellisville, $2,545.88
10. Dr. Charles Portwood, R-Ballwin, $2,540.81

Shockingly, 49 representatives have received at least $1,000 in gifts, and another two dozen should easily reach that total by the end of the year.

Hubbard owes much of his total to lobbyists for the Missouri Automobile Dealers Association and retired billionaire voucher supporter Rex Sinquefield.

Hubbard was one of the first recipients of gifts from newly-minted lobbyist, and former House Speaker Pro Tem Carl Bearden, who paid $100 for entertainment (a ballgame) and $27 for meals for Hubbard on Aug. 31. The previous day, another Sinquefield lobbyist, Travis Brown, paid $82.50 for travel for Hubbard, though the amount was credited to the Brown Lobby Firm.

On May 19, Hubbard received $1,000.81 in entertainment (tickets) from Missouri Automobile Dealers Association lobbyist Jay Reichard, who shares many clients with Andrew Blunt. On Aug. 10, another MADA lobbyist, Sam Barbee, provided $100 in 'event tickets" for Hubbard and on July 11 Barbee provided him with $125.50 in travel expenses.

Ameren UE picked up the tab for a Hubbard meal June 19, paying $88.90, though it looks smaller on the Ethics Commission disclosure form, since lobbyists William Gamble and Tina Shannon split the cost, paying $44.45 apiece. Gamble bought eight meals for the St. Louis Democrat, but did not "wine and dine" him, as he made clear on the Ethics Commission documents. Gamble always made a note saying he bought non-alcoholic beverages, juice, or carbonated beverages.

Shannon Cooper- May 9 was a big night for freebies for Shannon Cooper. He accepted five Kenny Chesney tickets worth $345 from Stephen Knorr, University of Missouri lobbyist, and $343 in travel and lodging from Ameristar Casinos lobbyist Jorgen Schlemeier, though Schlemeier only attributed a part of the cost to Ameristar, since it was the last day of the legislative session, it appears Cooper did quite a bit of celebrating.
Cooper also received a ticket to a Gordon Lightfoot concert, worth $50 from James R. Moody, representing Carlson Gardner of Springfield.
Cooper's gifts also included Missouri wine, valued at $15, from lobbyist William Shoehigh, representing United Health Care.
Cooper also took a cruise provided by Ameristar Casinos lobbyist Sarah Topp during the National Conference of State Legislators in August.

Michael Spreng- When it comes to lobbyist gifts, it appears that Spreng hopes eternal. That wishing and hoping came to pass during a three-day period in February, when AT&T lobbyist Craig Felzien provided Spreng with $200 worth of Fox tickets, whatever those are, and $600 worth of hockey tickets.

Spreng's major sugar daddy, however, is Samuel Licklider, lobbyist for the Missori Association of Realtors. Ethics Commission documents indicate Licklider has provided the Florissant Democrat with 13 meals, totaling $1,422.14, meaning the meals averaged more than $100, with the big one, costing $225.92, taking place April 25, as well as a $219.82 meal on May 15.

Mike Talboy- During a 13-day period in June, Mike Talboy, D-Kansas City, collected $1,136 in lobbyists' gifts, including tickets for all four days, four sessions, of the College Baseball World Series in Omaha, Neb., paid for by Madeline Romious of AT&T, at a cost of $368.
Three days earlier, Talboy, apparently a sports fan, not only received a Kansas City Royals ticket worth $35 from Fred J. Dreiling, listed as coming from his lobbying firm, and a $29 sports ticket, game not specified, from the Burton-Liese lobbying firm.
It was not all fun and games for Talboy, the Ethics Commission documents indicate. On June 23 and 24, Sara Schuett, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, paid for lodging and "continuing education credits" for Talboy at a cost of $624.35.

Steve Hunter- At one time, most of Hunter's gifts came from Ameristar Casinos lobbyists, but he has diversified his portfolio over the past few years.
That being said, Ameristar still plays a role, including $216 worth of concert tickets provided by Ameristar lobbyist Jorgen Schlemeier on March 31. Ameristar lobbyist Sarah Topp provided a $100.86 meal in January. Hunter's other gifts included the Kenny Chesney tickets for himself and his wife, Rita, from MU lobbyist Stephen Knorr.

(A closer look at numbers 6-10 will be featured later in The Turner Report Pictured- Rodney Hubbard, Shannon Cooper, Michael Spreng, Mike Talboy, Steve Hunter, Ted Hoskins, Jim Lembke, Connie Johnson, Neal St. Onge, Dr. Charles Portwood)