Cooper piles up $1,767.69 in lobbyists' gifts in March

You won't see Rep. Shannon Cooper riding gently into the sunset.
The term limited Clinton Republican continues to soak in lobbyists' gifts during his final year in office, adding another $1,767.69 during March.
According to documents filed earlier today with the Missouri Ethics Commission, Cooper accepted $960 worth of tickets to the Big 12 Conference Basketball Tournament from MU lobbyist Martin Oetting on March 13.
The following day, Cooper, whose penchant for latching onto free concert tickets has been noted numerous times on this blog, picked up two concert tickets, worth $153.40 from Jay Reichard, lobbyists for the Missouri Automobile Dealers Association and $426.01 for out-of-state travel from Ameristar Casino lobbyist Sarah Topp. It should be noted that Ms. Topp does not list Ameristar as one of the five clients who paid for Cooper's trip (whatever this important trip might have been is not specified on the Ethics Commission website). The trip was paid for by Missouri American Water, Missouri Pharmacy Association, Missouri Beverage Association, Miissouri Railroad Association, and Independent Colleges and Universities of Missouri.
Of course, Cooper has filed legislation beneficial to Ameristar Casino, something which has also been noted on this blog.

Cooper's March totals also include $45 for entertainment from John Kristan Jones, Sprint Nextel lobbyist for March 8.

More information on Cooper's adventures can be found in the April 24 Turner Report.