Documents posted this morning on the Missouri Ethics Commission website indicate Sen. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, has received $2,814.49 in gifts from lobbyists during the calendar year with more than $1,000 of that total coming in the months since the legislature's regular session ended.Richard collected $250.95 in gifts during September, the most recent month posted, including meals from lobbyists for Caesar's Entertainment, State Farm Insurance, Missouri Automobile Dealers Association, Missouri Hospital Association, St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, and Missouri American Water.
The most expensive meal, $108.50, came from Jeffrey Brooks, lobbyist for Armstrong Teasdale.
Ethics Commission documents show Richard ended August with a flourish, receiving more than $350 in meals and gifts from the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, including a meal from a Monsanto lobbyist, while being presented a Statesman Award.
3 comments:
I'm confused. Are we complaining that Mr. Richard goes to job-related events that include meals? Would we rather he stay home? Or would we rather he tell the people that pay for the meals that they need to make them more modest? My guess is that he does not set the menu at these things.
He needs to pay for his own meals period, just like every other working person has to do. Then he would not be beholden to them. Don't give me the old line they can't be bought that cheap because they can.
Ron Richard is not beholding to any one in particular, but everyone in general, as long as they entertain him and his lovely wife.
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