Steve Hunter shuts down campaign committee, gives money to White, Schaaf

For the first time since around the turn of the century, there is no Grass Roots for Hunter campaign committee.

The committee, which supported the political efforts of former Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, shut down in December. At the time of its termination, Hunter was listed as planning to run for statewide office in 2014, but that was just a formality to keep the committee open.

Hunter's last candidacy was for federal office when he ran for Seventh District Congress, a race which was eventually won by Billy Long. Hunter has also spent time as a lobbyist since he was term-limited out of the House of Representatives.

According to Missouri Ethics Commission documents, Hunter contributed $1,589.61 to Rep. Bill White, R-Joplin, and $1,589.62 to Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph.

Appellate court: Rita Hunter will have to pay $120,000 restitution

Former Jasper County Public Administrator Rita Hunter, now serving a one year and one day prison sentence for document fraud,  will also have to make restitution of $120,000 to Medicaid, as the Eighth District Court of Appeals today upheld the district court's punishment.

Mrs. Hunter, the wife of former Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, pleaded guilty November 6, 2012, as part of a plea bargain agreement. She had also been charged with two counts of health care fraud, two counts of theft of public money, two additional counts of document fraud, two counts of Social Security fraud, and two counts of Medicaid fraud.

Mrs. Hunter is serving her sentence at the federal facility in Greenville, Illinois, and is scheduled to be released June 14.