Friday, July 09, 2010

Talboy, Kansas City legislators top Turner Report Hall of Shame


In a year that began with much talk about curbing lobbyists' gifts to legislators (and ended with nothing being done about it) count Rep. Mike Talboy, D-Kansas City, as one of those who cut back on the freebies...but not by much.

Talboy, who raked in a record-setting $17,241.72 in lobbyists' gifts in 2009, has recorded $4,257.14 through the first five months of this year, slightly behind the $4,454.87 he received during the first five months of 2009.

The smaller amount, however, was still enough to give Talboy a comfortable lead in the gift race and place him once again at the head of the Turner Report Hall of Shame.

Missouri Ethics Commission records indicate 35 legislators have received at least $1,000 worth of gifts this year, with 12 pulling in more than $2,000 worth. The top 10, five of whom hail from Kansas City, and seven of whom are Democrats, make up the Hall of Shame.

Trailing Talboy were:
2. Michael Spreng, D-Florissant, $3,560.09
3. Joe Smith, R-St. Charles, $3,311.13
4. Kate Meiners, D-Kansas City, $2,646.45
5. Mike Colona, D-Kansas City, $2,645.58
6. Ryan Silvey, R-Kansas City, $2,523.26
7. Jeff Roorda, D-Barnhart, $2,480.25
8. Shalonn Curls, D-Kansas City, $2,148.20
9. Paul LeVota, D-Independence, $2,118.61
10. Doug Funderburk, R-St. Peters, $2,083.27

Two other legislators,  Timothy Jones R-Eureka, and Dwight Scharnhorst, R-Manchester, also picked up more than $2,000 in lobbyists' gifts.

Two Joplin-area legislators, Speaker of the House Ron Richard, R-Joplin, and Rep. Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin, were among the 35 representatives receiving at least $1,000 with $1,139.01 and $1,005.19, respectively.

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