Mo. lobbyists report costly meal differently

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A $3,000 dinner involving several Republican lawmakers was reported differently to the Missouri Ethics Commission by a dozen lobbyists splitting the tab.

The meal at a Dallas steakhouse was provided during an August conference of the American Legislative Exchange Council, and involved House Speaker Tim Jones, Majority Leader John Diehl, Rep. Sue Allen, Sen. Ed Emery and Sen. Wayne Wallingford.

Seven lobbyists representing businesses such as Hallmark Cards, Peabody Energy and Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City paid much of the bill and reported it as going to "the entire General Assembly." Five other lobbyists reported the gifts, which also included cab fare to the restaurant, as going to the individual lawmakers in attendance.

The meal highlights discrepancies in how lobbyist gifts are reported to the commission, The Kansas City Star reported. Missouri law allows a gift to be reported to a group, such as a committee or the entire Legislature, if all members of that group are invited in writing.

Chuck Simino, president of the Missouri Cable Telecommunications Association, said he thinks an invitation to the meal was sent to every legislator earlier in the year. But he still chose to report his $44.24 share of the bill as going toward individual lawmakers.

"The total General Assembly was not there, so I cannot report it as such," Simino said.

Jorgen Schlemeier spent $379.11 on the meal on behalf of Ameristar, the Missouri Pharmacy Association and the Missouri Railroad Association. He said he reported the expenditures as going to the entire Legislature based on guidance from the ethics commission.

Ethics commission executive director James Klahr said both practices are likely within the letter of the law, but that the law may need to be clarified to avoid this type of inconsistency. He said the intent of the law is that a gift can be given to a group when everyone in that group is invited and can reasonably be expected to attend.

"If attending requires [lawmakers] to take time off from jobs and travel to attend a conference out of state, the expectation probably isn't that all or a majority would go," Klahr said.