JEFFERSON CITY • When Democratic Rep. Margo McNeil finishes her day at the state Capitol during the Legislature’s annual session, she doesn’t head to a hotel to unwind.
McNeil, a former art teacher from Hazelwood, heads across town to a residential neighborhood, where she rents a room at the home of Luana Gifford.
While the arrangement may mean a homier, more tranquil place to spend time when away from the statehouse, it also represents another example of the often cozy relationship between lawmakers and lobbyists in Missouri.
Gifford, who has more than 20 years of experience as a lobbyist in Jefferson City, represents the interests of the American Federation of Teachers, one of the largest labor unions in the nation.
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In an interview with the Post-Dispatch, Gifford said she sees nothing wrong with the rental arrangement as long as she dutifully records it when she files monthly reports with the state office overseeing lobbyist activity.
“It’s very ethical,” she said.
Gifford is not alone when it comes to renting out rooms or apartments to lawmakers, most of whom spend four-plus months every year away from home.
A review of data collected by the Missouri Ethics Commission shows at least 12 additional lawmakers have had business relationships in the past year with lobbyists, ranging from the renting of sleeping rooms to the use of lawmaker-owned businesses.
Legal under ethics laws
It’s all perfectly legal for lawmakers to have business dealings with lobbyists under Missouri’s wide-open ethics laws, where candidates can take unlimited amounts of campaign money and be wined and dined by the companies and groups seeking to influence policy under the statehouse dome.
The housing data comes from business relationships reported by lobbyists on their monthly reports. Along with reporting how much they spend on lawmakers, lobbyists must note any direct business relationships, association or partnership with any public official.
Gifford’s reports note not only her rental to McNeil, but also to Democratic Rep. Genise Montecillo of Marlborough, who, like McNeil, was once a teacher. Montecillo no longer rents from Gifford.
Gifford said she and McNeil don’t often interact when the lawmaker is in town. She said she generally sees McNeil more at the Capitol than she does at her home. “Our hours are so different. They stay and work a lot,” Gifford said.
“I have always rented out a room at my house. A lot of people do for legislators,” she continued. “Oh, gosh, lots of people rent to legislators.”
The practice of lobbyists providing lodging for the people they hope to influence persists as Republican leaders in the House and Senate have said they are committed to cleaning up the culture in Jefferson City, where two lawmakers resigned last year after alleged inappropriate relationships with college interns.
Another lawmaker, Don Gosen, left office this year after admitting to an extramarital affair. And Democratic campaign operative and former lobbyist David Poger was alleged to have harassed interns who work at the Capitol.
A home instead of a hotel
For Gifford, the fact that lobbyists are renting space to lawmakers is not a problem.
“I’m sure this practice has been around for a long time. I’m sure it was that way before the 20 years I’ve been here,” Gifford said. “I think most legislators like to live at a home rather than rent a hotel room.”
That appears to be the case for Sen. Gina Walsh, a Democrat from Bellefontaine Neighbors.
In January, lobbyist Greg Johnston, who represents a number of companies, reported serving as a landlord for Walsh dating to the middle of 2015.
State Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, is listed as renting a room from lobbyist Richard McIntosh.
Brent Hemphill is a lobbyist for a number of heavy hitters in Jefferson City, including casino companies, the state restaurant association and BJC Healthcare Systems. He also lists himself as a landlord, providing shelter for Republican state Reps. David Hinson of St. Clair and Lincoln Hough of Springfield.
Hinson said he initially booked hotel rooms when he first began his career in the House. But, he didn’t like having to remove all of his belongings every Thursday knowing he’d be back in town on Monday.
Hinson said he began renting from Hemphill when he learned there was a vacancy. Reports show Hemphill previously rented space to state Sen. Eric Schmitt of Glendale and former Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey.
“My room is in the basement. It has its own access through the outside,” Hinson said.
He said he doesn’t see a conflict with the arrangement.
“I rarely see him there,” Hinson said.
In at least one recent case, the roles are reversed.
When state Rep. Bill White travels from his home in Joplin to Jefferson City, he doesn’t need to stay in a hotel or rent from a lobbyist. Real estate records show White owns a condominium at 605 Buckskin Drive in Jefferson City.
Ryan Johnson, a lobbyist for the Missouri Alliance for Freedom, said his firm was paying $350 a month for him to bunk at White’s condo. He recently moved out.
Do lawmakers get a deal?
It’s not clear if the lawmakers are getting a special deal from their lobbyist landlords. The reports don’t list how much each of the lawmakers is being charged for the rooms.
Schaaf said he believes he is paying fair market value for his quarters.
“As far as I’m concerned I am,” said Schaaf, who declined to describe his rental or say how much he’s paying for it.
“I’d just as soon not comment. Don’t see any problem with it,” Schaaf said.
Lawmakers receive $112 a day for lodging and meals, in addition to their $35,915 annual salary. In a given month, depending on how many days they are in session, the expense checks could tally up to nearly $1,800 a month.
For some, the business relationship is not about a soft pillow and a quiet room to sleep.
Records indicate Tyler McClay, a lobbyist, needed a pest control company for his office and called Art’s Pest Control. The business is owned by state Rep. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City.
Similarly, state Rep. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, is an investment adviser with Edward Jones. Lobbyist William Jarad Falk uses his services and, therefore, must report the existence of a business relationship.
“Rep. Engler handles my retirement investments,” reads a note on Falk’s January report to the ethics commission.
Falk also has reported buying homeowner’s insurance from former Republican Rep. Chris Molendorp of Belton since 2011.
?Kurt Erickson • 573-556-6181
@KurtEricksonPD on Twitter
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