The year in review: October 2007

October 2007 was another busy month for The Turner Report:

Oct. 31- Another defendant in the bank and credit card fraud case in which Rep. John Bowman, D-St. Louis, is charged, pleaded guilty.

Oct. 30- The Missouri Supreme Court refused to hear Freeman Health Systems' appeal of a decision keeping it from taking over control of METS.

Oct. 26- The federal government filed papers indicating it wanted to try Rep. John Bowman, D-St. Louis separately in a bank and credit card fraud case.

Oct. 24- The corporate hog farming industry added a big gun when it hired former Rep. Jewell Patek as a lobbyist.

Oct. 23- GateHouse Media purchased the Pittsburg Morning Sun, Independence Examiner, and more than a dozen other newspapers.

Oct. 22- A former Missouri Department of Revenue employee entered a guilty plea in an identity theft case.

Oct. 19- The indictment against an alleged accomplice of former Rep. Nathan Cooper, R-Cape Girardeau, was dismissed.

Oct. 19- Two more guilty pleas were scheduled in the bank and credit card fraud case in which Rep. John Bowman, D-St. Louis, is one of the defendants.

Oct. 19- The Plaster family of Lebanon has contributed $13,400 to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.

Oct. 17- State Board of Education member Peter Herschend and his wife contributed the maximum amount to the Senate campaign of Rep. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, the House's top educational voucher supporter.

Oct. 17- Seventeen oversized contributions were made to the campaign account of Rep. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, after the Missouri Supreme Court ruling reinstating the limits.

Oct. 17- Speaker of the House Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, received $6,375 in contributions from sources connected to Robert Plaster of Lebanon, less than a month after he inserted wording in legislation that would benefit Plaster.

Oct. 16- Rep. Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin, once again paid her National Rifle Association dues with money from her campaign account.

Oct. 16- Rep. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, helped ensure his election as speaker-in-waiting by contributing nearly $100,000 to the campaign accounts of his fellow Republican House members.


Oct. 15- Former Missouri State University drama instructor George Cron appealed the dismissal of his wrongful discharge lawsuit in federal court.

Oct. 15- Sen. Chris Koster, D-Harrisonville, a candidate for attorney general, received nearly $100,000 in contributions from committees established by retired billionaire voucher supporter Rex Sinquefield.

Oct. 15- Lobbyists contribute $3,500 to the campaign account of Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin.

Oct. 13- Retired billionaire Rex Sinquefield contributed $100,000 to the nation's leading voucher supporter organization All Children Matter.

Oct. 12- Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, closed his campaign committee, and indicated he plans to run for the Carl Junction R-1 Board of Education.

Oct. 12- A former Missouri Department of Revenue employee agreed to plead guilty to fraud and identity theft charges.

Oct. 10- Rep. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, told the Springfield News-Leader that he did not accept lobbyists' gifts, but his campaign finance documents indicate he received more than $8,000 in campaign contributions connected to lobbyists during a two-day period in 2005.

Oct. 10- Friends of the 158th, a shell committee formed by former Rep. Nathan Cooper, R-Cape Girardeau closed, distributing its money to local charities.

Oct. 10- Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, returned excess campaign contributions according to Missouri Ethics Commission documents.

Oct. 10- A settlement was reached in a sexual harassment lawsuit against the Joplin Globe.

Oct. 9- Rep. Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, accepted a $7,500 campaign contribution from retired billionaire and voucher supporter Rex Sinquefield.

Oct. 6- Rep. Rodney Hubbard, D-St. Louis, and Rep. Shannon Cooper, R-Clinton, topped the latest Turner Report Hall of Shame as the representatives accepting the most gifts from lobbyists.

Oct. 6- Justice for Juveniles, the group fighting for the release of Memorial Middle School shooter Thomas Gregory White, is also battling to free Charles "Andy" Williams, the killer at Santee High School.

Oct. 1- Ameristar Casinos paid for a cruise for Speaker of the House Rod Jetton, and a number of legislators.

Oct. 1- Former Rep. Carl Bearden, R-St. Charles, began his lobbying work for retired billionaire voucher supporter Rex Sinquefield, paying for tickets and meals for a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game.