Dempsey, Shields head Turner Report Hall of Shame

It didn't take long for Tom Dempsey, R-St. Peters, to move to the top in the Missouri Senate.
Dempsey, who was Majority Floor Leader for the House last year, made a seamless transition to the Senate, immediately showing himself to be a magnet for lobbyists' gifts.
During the first three months of 2008, Dempsey has accepted $1,888.63 worth of lobbyists' gifts putting him at the top of the Turner Report Hall of Shame.

The Hall this time is well balanced, including five Democrats and five Republicans.
Dempsey is joined at the top by an old favorite, Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, who has received gifts totaling $1,256.05.

Following Dempsey and Shields are:

3. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, $1,080.44
4. Maida Coleman, D-St. Louis $1,045.55
5. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis $924.56
6. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, $808.42
7. Scott Rupp, R-Wentzville, $804.74
8. John Griesheimer, R-Washington, $785.11
9. Luann Ridgeway, R-Smithville, $734.52
10. Rita Days, D-St. Louis, $711.88

Dempsey had already collected more than $1,000 worth of gifts on Jan. 1, days before the legislative session began. Missouri Ethics Commission documents show he received $670 in travel from lobbyist Travis Brown, representing AT&T and $$360 worth of entertainment from Rodney Boyd of Sonnenshein, Nath & Rosenthal.

You can actually bring that total to $1,700 on the first day of the year since Brown also paid for $670 worth of travel for Dempsey's wife, Mollie.

Charlie Shields has picked up his gifts steadily through the first three months, including $255 for meals, food and beverage from Phillip Schnieders, Missouri Automobile Dealers Association in March.

During a two-day period, Jan. 10 and 11, Chuck Graham received $729.35 for lunch, beverages, dinners, lodging, airfare to and from Virginia from Rodney Gray, lobbyist for Amerigroup Corporation, Virginia Beach, Va.

Maida Coleman's March report, included $168.88 on March 25 from Ameren UE lobbyist Donna Martin for a women's retreat, meals, and travel. Ms. Coleman also received $98.93 for entertainment and meals from Tina Shannon, also an Ameren UE lobbyist, on March 2.

Jeff Smith's total includes $365.10 for meals, food, and beverage on March 10 from Jorgen Schlemeier, representing Missouri Dental Association, Missouri Residential Care Association, Missouri College of Emergency Physicians, Missouri Pharmacy Association, and Missouri Psychological Association. Though it was not included on the disclosure form, Schlemeier also represents Ameristar Casinos.