HIRED GUN: FORMER LEGISLATOR IS SEMO'S MAN IN JEFFERSON CITY

When Marvin Proffer speaks, Missouri's state officials and lawmakers listen.

Southeast Missouri State University officials like it that way. Proffer works as a lobbyist and fund-raiser for the school, a job he has held since January 1989.

The former state representative works under a year-to-year contract.

Under his current contract, the university pays him $64,448 plus a maximum of $15,000 a year for expenses.

School officials say it is worth the cost when it comes to securing funding for campus projects and programs.

The public may view lobbyists as hired guns. But lobbyists are essential to the legislative process, said Dr. Dale Nitzschke, Southeast's president.

"They really are information givers," he said. "It is important to have someone who can give time and attention to the issues that affect higher education."

Southeast isn't alone in its lobbying efforts. Missouri's other public colleges and universities have lobbyists too.

Among the larger schools, Southeast spends more on lobbying than Truman State University and Central Missouri State University.

The four-campus University of Missouri system and Southwest Missouri State University spend more on lobbyists than does Southeast.

Critics such as Rep. Chuck Gross, R-St. Charles, say taxpayers are paying money to lobby themselves.

He wants to ban state institutions, including universities, from spending tax dollars to lobby lawmakers.

But other lawmakers say they rely on lobbyists for information on how different bills will affect various institutions, agencies or industries.

"I rely heavily on somebody like Marvin for information about what is going on with the university," said state Rep. Joe Heckemeyer, D-Sikeston.

The House considers about 2,000 bills each legislative session. Relatively few of them become law.

"Bills up here are changing face every day, with amendments and committee attachments," Heckemeyer said.

It is impossible for lawmakers to know every detail of every bill, he said.

Lobbyists provide vital information. "We rely upon their expertise," said Heckemeyer.

Proffer said it is important for Southeast to have a lobbyist because every government division or agency has someone lobbying at the state Capitol.

Proffer lives in St. Louis, but spends a lot of time in Jefferson City when the Legislature is in session.

He previously lived in Jackson. He served as state representative for 26 years, including eight years in the powerful position of House budget chairman.

Proffer knows his way around state government. Southeast officials said he opens doors for the university to make its case to everyone from the governor to the Legislature.

Proffer makes a point to chat with everyone from lawmakers to the office secretaries.

"People like to see you walk down the hall. They like to see you come in the office to say hello," he said.

Southeast never had an official lobbyist until the regents hired Proffer on the recommendation of then-president Dr. Bill Stacy.

Stacy wanted to hire Proffer as his full-time assistant. But Proffer said he didn't want to be a state employee.

"I wanted to work on an annual contract," said Proffer.

Both Proffer and Southeast officials said the arrangement has worked well.

Proffer said he is different from most lobbyists. Proffer spends about 65 percent of his time raising money over the course of a year. Lobbying takes up most of the remainder of his time, although he also does some student recruitment.

Although he is involved in fund raising and works with the university's private foundation, Proffer is paid entirely from the university's budget.

"I think what we pay Marvin is a tremendous bargain," said Don Dickerson, president of the Board of Regents.

Nitzschke and Dickerson said a lobbyist will succeed only if lawmakers trust him to give them the straight facts.

Nitzschke's predecessor, Dr. Kala Stroup, spent a lot of time in Jefferson City lobbying lawmakers and other state officials. Stroup left Southeast to take the job of Missouri's commissioner of higher education.

Nitzschke said he has made about 10 lobbying trips to Jefferson City since he became president last July.

Most of the time, he relies on Proffer and Dr. Ken Dobbins, the school's executive vice president and chief budget officer, to handle the lobbying chores.

At some schools, university presidents have been severely criticized for spending too much time in the state capital and not enough time running things on campus, Nitzschke said.

Nitzschke believes school presidents can overstay their welcome with lawmakers. "My role is to be there when I need to be there and to stay away when not needed," he said.

Proffer said he talks with Nitzschke and Dobbins at least a couple of times a week during the legislative session.

Nitzschke, Dobbins and Dickerson joined Proffer in Jefferson City last week to lobby lawmakers to include funding for a technology center at Southeast.

The $5.5 million project is a top priority of the school, which wants to create a polytechnic institute. But Gov. Mel Carnahan didn't include the project in his proposed budget.

Lobbying could make a difference. "There are no guarantees but we clearly haven't given up on that," Nitzschke said.