Richard leads area legislators in April lobbyists' gifts

Speaker of the House Ron Richard, R-Joplin, led Joplin-area legislators in lobbyists' gifts in April with $222.90. according to documents posted this morning on the Missouri Ethics Commission website.

Richard's total included a $34.78 meal from Kristi Wyatt, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce; $30 ticket to a St. Louis Cardinals game from John Bardgett, the Cardinals' lobbyist; a $24 meal from David Nichols, AT&T; $17.58 meal from Michael David Grote, CGI Technologies and Solutions; meals worth $16.50 and $39.47 from Gary Burton, Missouri Association of Insurance Agents; $48.71 meal from Rodney Boyd, Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal; $30.50 meal from David Nicholas, AT&T; and a $15.86 meal from David A. Smith, Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield.

Richard has received $1,439.87 in lobbyists' gifts during the first four months of 2009.

Other Joplin-area legislators' totals:

Ed Emery, R-Lamar- Emery received $45.10 in lobbyists' gifts, topped by a $21 meal from John Sondag, a lobbyist for AT&T. Emery has received $219.75 in gifts.

Tom Flanigan, R-Carthage- Flanigan had $156.29 in gifts during April, led by $60 for printing and publication of district map, according to the Ethics Commission document, from Martin Oetting, University of Missouri. Other gifts included a $41.34 meal from Randy Scherr, Missouri Association of Defense Lawyers; and a $37.64 meal from Michael Reid, Missouri Association of School Boards. Flanigan has picked up $390.84 in gifts this year.

Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin- Ruestman had $83.11 in gifts in April, led by a $51.01 meal paid for by Kyna Iman, lobbyist for Missouri Southern State University. Ms. Ruestman has received $616.86 in gifts during 2009.

Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City- Stevenson's total for April was $196.13, led by meals worth $56 and $35.98 paid for by Gary Burton, Missouri Association of Insurance Agents. Stevenson has received $1,013.57 worth of gifts so far this year.

Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho- Wilson received $71.65 in gifts in April, including $64.65 for a meal from Burton, with $40.18 of that charged to Missouri Association of Insurance Agents and the remaining $24.47 charged to Missouri Council of School Administrators. Wilson has received $471.65 in gifts during the first four months of 2009.

Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin- Nodler received only an $11.38 meal from Kathryn Ann Harness, representing Metro. Nodler's total for 2009 is $593.77.