It has to be tough for Missouri lobbyists' budgets these days. It seems that if you pay for a meal for powerful Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, you also have to pay for a meal for Nodler's wife, Joncee.
The tradition continued in March, according to documents posted this morning on the Missouri Ethics Commission website. Gary Nodler received $88.22 in lobbyists' gifts during the month, while Mrs. Nodler received a $23.26 meal paid for by David Hale, representing the Missouri Hospital Association.
Nodler's total for the year is $582.39, but when Mrs. Nodler's $107.60 is added to the total, it gives the couple $689.99, far more than the total recorded by other Southwest Missouri senators.
The Ethics Commission documents show Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mount Vernon, with $225.45 for the year, including $16.68 in March; Sen. Delbert Scott, R-Lowry City, with $350.53 for 2009 and $35 for March; and $354.79 for Sen. Norma Champion, R-Springfield, including $67.25 in March.
As noted in earlier Turner Report posts, Mrs. Nodler has received meals this year from lobbyists representing the city of Joplin and Missouri State University.
In 2008, the Nodlers received $3,252.56 in lobbyists' gifts, including $1,339.29 for Mrs. Nodler. Those gifts were detailed in the April 1 Turner Report.
Of course, there are (at least) two sides to every story and Mrs. Nodler offered hers in a response to the April 1 post:
About the lobbyist expense reports, I've sometimes wondered where they get some of the numbers they show, but they do make for good stories. Admittedly, I do spend more time in Jeff City with my husband than most legislator's spouses. We like each other and are fortunate that we can spend time together. We prefer to spend that time privately, but when we are invited to dinner, we go together. I don't know why that bothers some people.
Nodler really looks like he's living high on the hog. Wonder how his total sell out to the highest bidders will affect his congressional campaign.
ReplyDeleteThe Ironworkers Political Education Fund, Washington, D. C. contributed $25,000 to the Missouri Democratic Party gets one sentence and you give Noddler's meal nine paragraph's? Gee, your liberal bias is hanging out big time Randy.
ReplyDeleteApparently, my liberal bias is also the reason I mentioned the contribution when no one else did. And that is why I offered the only coverage of the delay in the hearing on whether a Democratic representative charged with DWI should keep his driver's license, or the reason why I pointed out a sizable contribution to Democratic attorney general Chris Koster from a law firm which has been involved in pay to sue operations across the U. S.?
ReplyDeleteIt appears that in your book a person automatically has a liberal bias if he points out that Gary Nodler is doing something wrong.