Missouri Republicans raise thousands selling private meetings with Senate leaders
Ten companies — ranging from cable providers to Kansas City Southern — were among a group that donated enough money last month to buy private, face-to-face meetings with Missouri Senate leaders during the first two weeks of the 2017 legislative session.
The Nov. 16 fundraiser was held at Arrowhead Stadium, with proceeds going to the Missouri Senate Campaign Committee, which helps fund GOP candidates for the state Senate.
The event drew attention when it was revealed that for a $5,000 contribution, donors purchased a private dinner with GOP leaders when they return to the Missouri Capitol to begin legislating in January. A $2,500 donation bought a private breakfast with Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard and Majority Leader Mike Kehoe.
Both the dinner and breakfast sessions will take place in Jefferson City.
According to disclosure reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission last week, seven $5,000 donations were made to the Missouri Senate Campaign Committee on Nov. 16.
▪ Missouri Cable PAC
▪ Missouri Society of Anesthesiologists
▪ Right Choice Managed Care Inc.
▪ MO Health Care Association PAC (which represents nursing homes around the state)
▪ Spire PAC (which represents a St. Louis based gas company)
▪ Kansas City Southern Rail PAC
▪ Paul Berra (a lobbyist for Charter Communications)
Three donations were made on Nov. 16 that were big enough to get breakfast with GOP leaders:
▪ H&R Block
▪ Hy-Vee Inc. Employees’ PAC
▪ UPS PAC
Six more donations fell short of buying a meeting but still topped $1,000:
▪ Centurytel Inc.
▪ Kansas City Chiefs Football Club
▪ FanDuel
▪ DraftKings
▪ Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.
▪ Missouri Architects’ PAC
Senate Republicans raised more than $50,000 at their Kansas City event.
The 2017 legislative session begins at noon Jan. 4. Republicans hold a 24-9 advantage in the Missouri Senate and a 117-46 advantage in the House.
This story was originally published December 12, 2016 at 9:53 AM.