Monday, December 31, 2007

Sinquefield hires third lobbyist

Retired billionaire voucher supporter Rex Sinquefield continues to prepare for another assault on Missouri public education.
Missouri Ethics Commission records indicate that Sinquefield, who had no lobbyists on his payroll until July, now has three. In addition to veteran lobbyist Travis Brown and former Rep. Carl Bearden, R-St. Charles, Mark Tucker, now works for Sinquefield.

An example of how the Sinquefield money is being spread around can be found in this passage from the Nov. 1 Turner Report:

Former Rep. Carl Bearden, now the lobbyist for retired billionaire Rex Sinquefield, continued to spread the cash for his new employer, according to documents posted this morning on the Missouri Ethics Commission website.
Bearden spent $4,325.30 on state legislators, nearly all of it during a two-day period, apparently at a pair of St. Louis Cardinals home games against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The documents indicate on Sept. 18 Bearden paid for $178, combined meals, beverage, and entertainment, for each of the following: representatives Tom Dempsey,R-St. Charles, Rodney Hubbard, D. St. Louis, Talibdin El-Amin, D.St. Louis, Allen Icet, R-Wildwood, Scott Muschany, R. St. Louis, Steven Tilley, R-Perryville, and senators Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, and Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis.
The following day, the Sinquefield lobbyist paid for $100 in entertainment and $69.71 for meals and beverage for representatives Charles Portwood, R-Ballwin, Ted Hoskins, D-Berkeley, Walt Bivins, R-St. Louis, Jim Lembke, R-St. Louis, Rachel Storch, D-St. Louis, Rick Stream,R-Kirkwood, and Gina Walsh, D-St. Louis.
Sinquefield's lobbyist also paid for tickets and meals for several family members and staff.

1 comment:

nothing said...

Sing me a new one--this bit is getting OLD.