Monday, October 01, 2007

Sinquefield lobbyist begins wining, dining legislators

Former House Speaker Pro Tem Carl Bearden began his work on behalf of retired billionaire voucher supporter Rex Sinquefield in August, according to documents posted today on the Missouri Ethics Commission website.
Bearden reported spending $889 on seven legislators, with all of that money going for entertainment and meals on Aug. 31. Bearden's disclosure form describes the entertainment as a "sporting event" and the St. Louis Cardinals' schedule indicates the team was entertaining the Cincinnati Reds that day.
The Ethics Commission documents indicate Bearden paid $120 for entertainment and $27 for meals, food, and beverage for representatives Talibdin El-Amin, D-St. Louis, Theodore Hoskins, D-Berkeley; Rodney Hubbard, D-St. Louis, Timothy Jones, R-Eureka; Jerry Nolte, R-Gladstone; Charles Schlottach, R-Owensville; and Ryan Silvey, R-Kansas City.
The expenditures were the first reported by Bearden since he left the legislature to become a lobbyist, joining Travis Brown. Brown reported spending $854 during August, all credited to the Brown Lobby Firm, including $404 for travel, $202 each for Silvey and Silvey's wife, on Aug. 11. and $184 each for travel for Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, and Shane Schoeller, R-Willard on Aug. 10, and $82.50 for travel for Hubbard on Aug. 30.

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