Watered down lobbying bill passes U. S. House

A watered-down lobbying bill passed by a 217-213 margin Wednesday, with area U. S. representatives splitting on the bill. Seventh District Congressman Roy Blunt voted in favor of the measure, while Fourth District Representative Ike Skelton voted against it.
The measure calls for a ban on lobbyist-financed travel until the end of the year rather than the permanent ban some legislators had sought. It also calls for more frequent disclosure of gifts from lobbyists.
The bill was criticized because it did not ban gifts outright. A proposal to send the bill back for further instructions, an effort to try to make it tougher, died by a 216-213 vote with Skelton supporting the proposal and Blunt opposing it.
More information can be found in this Houston Chronicle article.

Schaaf's friends are not yours and mine

Friends of Rob Schaaf, that's what State Representative Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, calls his campaign committee. They may be his friends, but judging from the results of their relationship, they're not my friends and they're not your friends either.
Schaaf, the chairman of the House Special Committee on Healthcare Facilities, promises to gut a bill designed to eliminate Medicaid fraud if provisions that might cause problems for doctors are not removed from the legislation.
According to an article in today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

"Under the Senate-passed bill, Missouri would set up a system similar to one in Texas. Passing the bill, called a state False Claims Act, would put Missouri in line for federal financial incentives. So far, at least 16 states have taken that step.
"Sen. Chris Koster, R-Harrisonville, sponsors the bill. He noted that last year, the state cut 90,000 low-income people from the Medicaid rolls. He said the state had an obligation to scrutinize providers, too.
"His bill would provide that whistle-blowers - insiders with information about cheating - could receive 20 to 35 percent of the money recovered. Tipsters could file civil suits, which would be sealed while the attorney general investigated the allegations.
"Whereas some states let whistle-blowers proceed with suits on their own, Koster's bill would provide that only cases chosen by the attorney general would go forward.
"Koster told the House committee that the whistle-blower provisions were the key to getting federal incentive payments.
"The federal government pays 60 percent of Medicaid's costs, so it usually takes 60 percent of funds recovered. But if the state passes a False Claims Act, the federal government would split the bounty with the state 50-50.
"That argument carried no weight with Schaaf. At Tuesday's hearing, the chairman told Koster: 'I could care less about that federal incentive.' "
***
The problem and it is not an unusual one in our state legislature is the built-in conflict of interest Rob Schaaf has. Or perhaps I should refer to him as Dr. Rob Schaap, since in addition to his part-time job in the House he is a family physician.
He is also a family physician whose campaign war chest is lined with contributions from his friends, many of whom are his fellow doctors. During the last three months, Dr. Schaaf received $8,826 in contributions, according to documents filed in April with the Missouri Ethics Commission. Of the 30 contributions he received, only two, a $1,000 contribution from the Buchanan County Republican Central Committee, $300 from a restaurant owner and $300 from AT&T were from non-medical sources.
Schaaf picked up $7,225 from medical sources including the maximum $300 from the Missouri Society of Anesthesiologists, Professional Medical PAC, Missouri Medical PAC, Clayton Dermatology, Digestive Disease Specialists, Serenity Women's Healthcare, Supporters of Health Research and Treatments, Tri-County Medical Society, and Western Anesthesiology Associates, Inc. The other donations came from individual physicians.
In his January quarterly filing with the Ethics Commission, Dr. Schaaf reported $6,000 in campaign contributions, with at least $3,500 coming from medical sources, and quite possibly more since some of those who donated are listed as "retired."
***
According to the Post-Dispatch article, Schaaf's committee eliminated the most important parts of the Senate bill and lobbyists for the medical interests praised his committee's actions:

"On Tuesday, the hearing room overflowed with lobbyists for medical providers. Testimony came from trade groups for pharmacists, osteopaths and nursing homes. They told Schaaf they could live with the House version. 'We appreciate the deliberation that your committee has shown,' said Jon Dolan, a lobbyist for the nursing home industry.
***
Rob Schaaf failed to stand up last year when the Medicaid proposals were designed to hurt his patients. This year, when he and his fellow physicians might have been slightly inconvenienced, the doctor is filled with righteous indignation. The Friends of Rob Schaaf are good friends indeed.

Hollinger may cease to exist

The Hollinger brand may soon leave the world of print journalism.
Today's Chicago Sun-Times says company stockholders will be asked to change the newspaper chain's name to the Sun-Times Group when it holds its annual meeting June 13.
Hollinger has received considerable bad press since accusations of looting the company treasury were made against former CEO Conrad Black. Hollinger's U. S. based newspaper group, American Publishing, at one time owned the Neosho Daily News and The Carthage Press.

Rector actions keep door open for telemarketers

State Representative Rex Rector, R-Harrisonville, drew the wrath of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial board when he singlehandedly blocked legislation in committee that would have increased Missouri no-call laws to include cell phones and fax machines.
According to the editorial, Rector called for a voice vote on moving the bill forward, and even though it was obvious that the committee members favored the legislation (as does Governor Matt Blunt), Rector said the no votes prevailed.
The Post-Dispatch speculated Rector's action had lobbyists smiling.
An examination of the Harrisonville Republican's most recent campaign finance disclosure reports shows that special interests do get what they pay for. Among those donating to Rector's re-election campaign during this year's reports are Randy J. Scherr, lobbyist for numerous banking and insurance interests, Scherr's lobbying firm, Scherr, Winter & Steinmetz, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Karen Stark, a Bolivar insurance company owner, Melanie Music-Foley, AT&T lobbyist; MCI, and Cingular Wireless.
A quick check of his campaign finance documents for 2004 and 2005 shows a who's who of the special interests who have opposed no-call legislation, including insurance agents, bankers and telephone companies.
This is legislation favored by most legislators who regularly accept money from these interests. Our elected officials realize the popularity of no-call lists. Unfortunately, all it takes is one official to create a roadblock to progress.

Numerous problems noted in Barry County audit

Barry County officials were cited for a number of missteps in accounting procedures, documentation, and bid taking, among other problems, during a state audit issued Tuesday.

Globe parent company buys Muskogee newspaper

CNHI, the parent company of the Joplin Globe, added to its portfolio today, buying the Muskogee Phoenix from Gannett, according to the Tulsa World.
The company already owns nine other daily newspapers in Oklahoma- Chickasha, Edmond, Enid, McAlester, Norman, Pryor, Sapulpa, Tahlequah and Claremore.

Nexstar CEO will break $1 million barrier

Nexstar Broadcasting CEO Perry Sook will crash the $1 million barrier this year if he meets goals set by the board of directors, according to a proxy statement filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Sook was the architect of the highly controversial showdown with cable companies including Cable One in Joplin and Cox Communications, in which stations were pulled off local cable in 2005 if the cable companies did not agree to pay retransmission fees. Nexstar-owned KSNF and KODE, which is allegedly owned by Mission Broadcasting, but which to all intents and purposes is another Nexstar station, were pulled off Cable One in Joplin for nearly all of 2005.
Sook's employment contract calls for him to receive a base salary of $675,000 this year, a figure that will go to $1,012,500 if he meets his goals and receives a $337,500 bonus. That amount will increase to a $700,000 base salary in 2007, with a $350,000 bonus, and a $750,000 base salary the following year, with a $375,000 bonus.
During 2005, Sook earned a total of $914,229, according to the proxy statement, including a $650,000 base salary, $250,000 bonus, and $14,229, categorized as "other." That other included medical insurance, group term life insurance, an automobile allowance, the value of the use of his personal automobile, and investment in a 401K plan.
Even if something goes wrong and the company decides to get rid of Sook, he will receive a one-year base salary as compensation, according to his employment agreement.
Nexstar COO Duane Lammers received slightly over half a million in 2005, according to the proxy report, including a $314,846 base salary and a $200,000 bonus. His pay will increase slightly to $320,000 this year, $330,000 in 2007 and $340,000 in 2008, according to the terms of his employment contract. His bonus could be as much as $165,000 this year, $170,000 next year, and an amount to be set at Sook's discretion in 2008.
The proxy report also included some minor issues to be discussed at the annual stockholders' meeting, scheduled for May 30, in Irving, Texas.
Nexstar Broadcasting also owns KSFX in Springfield and is the de facto owner of KOLR.

Business Journal: Governor Blunt target of FBI probe

Today's Springfield Business Journal continues to build on the blockbuster reports recently published by the Kansas City Star, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and Associated Press concerning an FBI probe into Governor Matt Blunt's awarding of license fee offices.

Revenues up for Northpark Mall owner

Revenues were up 14.3 percent for CBL and Associates, owner of Northpark Mall and other malls across the countries, according to a company news release.
The Chattanooga, Tenn. company reported $245,319,000 in revenues, up from $214,711,000 during the first quarter in 2005.
Same-store sales for mall tenants were up 2.8 percent, according to the news release.

Morning Sun profiles Joplin teacher

Christy McNally, a teacher at McKinley Elementary in Joplin and one of the recipients of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce's Golden Apple awards last week, is profiled in an article in today's Pittsburg Morning Sun.