Nodler, wife received more than $3,000 worth of lobbyists' gifts in 2008

When The Turner Report released its latest Hall of Shame rankings Saturday, the name of Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, was not on that list.

The list names the 10 senators who have received the largest amount of gifts from lobbyists, according to filings with the Missouri Ethics Commission. In the latest ranking, Nodler comes in 13th with $1,867.72.

The listings under Nodler's name, however, do not include meals, lodging, and other gifts made by lobbyists to Nodler's wife Joncee. According to Ethics Commission filings, Mrs. Nodler has received $1,339.29 in gifts during the first 11 months of 2002, meanging the Nodlers have received $3,207.01 worth of lobbyists' gifts, a number that would place them in fifth place on the list if spouses were included.

In fact, Mrs. Nodler's total ranks her above 15 of the state's 34 senators.

The most recent gifts for Nodler and his wife were explored in the Dec. 31 Turner Report, which detailed gifts the Nodlers received from lobbyist Travis Brown, representing billionaire Rex Sinquefield:

Nodler, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and his wife Joncee, received $1,135.98 in meals and lodging from Sinquefield's lobbyist Nov. 7 and Nov. 8, according to the documents. On Nov. 7, each of the Nodlers received $162.13 for meals, with the total increasing to $286.21 apiece for meals the following day.

Nodler received lodging totaling $239.30 on Nov. 7.

Earlier lobbyists' gifts to Mrs. Nodler were listed in the Nov. 1 Turner Report.