Lawmakers get discount on vacation

http://springfield.news-leader.com/news/today/20050403-Lawmakersgetdis.html

Jefferson City — Lobbyists helped cover lodging and meals for nine Republican House members who vacationed at a tourist spot in Arkansas during their week off last month.

House Communications director Todd Abrajano said this week that some lawmakers covered their own costs, but he could not say who, or detail exactly what the total cost was.

Two of the lobbyists who helped pay for the trip were:

• Andy Blunt, brother of Gov. Matt Blunt. Andy Blunt lobbies the legislature on behalf of the Springfield office of Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Co., according to the ethics commission.

• Scott Marrs, who represents nine Springfield entities, including the city of Springfield, the Greene County Commission, Springfield Public Schools and Southwest Missouri State University. Marrs also lobbies on behalf of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, according to the Missouri Ethics Commission's Web site.

Marrs said he paid for the trip and that his clients didn't directly.

"It's just part of doing business," he said...