Getting back to lobbyists' spending disclosures for May-August: Naturally, there weren't many legislative receptions in the off-season, but there were some.
The largest was the West Virginia Association for Justice, which hosted a reception June 4 at Embassy Suites during the group's annual conference in Charleston.
The reception cost $8,532, with 225 in attendance, at a cost of $37.92 each. That included 11 public officials, at a cost of $417, with the disclosure noting that all Supreme Court justices, circuit judges, and statewide elected officers were invited.
Meanwhile, the West Virginia Insurance Federation hosted a couple of regional receptions and dinners.
The first was May 13, attended by Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles Trump, R-Morgan, and Delegates Saira Blair, R-Berkeley; Walter Duke, R-Berkeley; Paul Espinosa, R-Jefferson; Michael Folk, R-Berkeley; Eric Householder, R-Berkeley; John Overington, R-Berkeley; and Stephen Skinner, D-Jefferson. The cost was $74.27 each.
A second reception July 28 was attended by Senate President Bill Cole, R-Mercer; Sen. Daniel Hall, R-Wyoming; and Delegates Mick Bates, D-Raleigh; Tom Fast, R-Fayette; Marty Gearhart, R-Mercer; and House Judiciary Chairman John Shott, R-Mercer.
Each summer, legislators, along with Lottery Commission and Racing Commission officials are invited to attend receptions and dinner for the West Virginia Derby thoroughbred races at Mountaineer Casino and Racetrack.
Lobbyist Nelson Robinson reported that 17 officials attended a July 31 reception, at a cost of $895, or $52.65 each, and 24 officials attended a reception and dinner Aug. 1, at a cost of $2,585 or $107.74 each.
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Frequently in the off-season, lobbyists will follow legislators when they go to out-of-state conferences and meetings, either hosting formal receptions or taking legislators out for dinner and drinks in the host city.
There was one example of that in the latest disclosures: Lobbyists Chris Mahr, Chris Weikle and Jason Wazelle pooled their resources to host a dinner at the Shrimp Factory in Savannah, Georgia, July 20, during the Southern Legislative Conference annual meeting there.
Total cost was $1,906 with a total of 38 in attendance, including 31 legislators and staff, at a cost of $1,554, or $50.16 each.
Lobbyists aren't required to list attendees, but some of the state legislators who attended the SLC were Delegates Rupie Phillips, D-Logan; J.B. McCuskey, R-Kanawha; Gary Howell, R-Mineral; Woody Ireland, R-Ritchie; Joe Statler, R-Monongalia; and Mark Zatezelo, R-Hancock. Also, Sens. Roman Prezioso, D-Marion, and John Unger, D-Berkeley, chaired panels during the SLC.
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The West Virginia Coal Association picked up the tab for meals and lodging at The Greenbrier for three guest speakers at the association's annual meeting Aug. 6-8.
That included $829 for two nights' lodging for Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Randy Huffman, and $417 each for single-night stays for Eugene White, director of the Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training; and for Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va.
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Daniel Carey, with the Office of General Counsel with the National Rifle Association, reported spending $337 on meals and beverages for lunch with Sens. Cole, Carmichael, Trump and Daniel Hall, along with Sens. Robert Karnes, R-Upshur; Dave Sypolt, R-Preston; Chris Walters, R-Putnam; Ed Gaunch, R-Kanawha; Mark Maynard, R-Wayne; Kent Leonhardt, R-Monongalia; and Richie Heath, counsel to the Senate president. Average cost was $24.97.
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Mike Basile, lawyer/lobbyist with Spilman, Thomas & Battle, took Cole to dinner May 22, at a cost of $80.96 each.
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At the other extreme, William Strum with the nonprofit Jobs for West Virginia Graduates reported buying lunch for Delegate Jim Morgan, D-Cabell, after Morgan spoke to students at Huntington High School as part of a career development day. Strum said all participants were treated to lunch in the cafeteria; estimated cost per person, $5.
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Speaking of the Ethics Commission, Theresa Kirk, who served as executive director of the commission from 2009 to 2013, and who had worked as counsel for the commission for five years prior, is back at the commission as a part-time counsel. (Clearly, no revolving door violation.)
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House Majority Leader Daryl Cowles, R-Morgan; Delegate John O'Neal, R-Raleigh, and Sen. Daniel Hall all had campaign fundraisers last Monday evening following legislative interim meetings.
Ironically, earlier that afternoon, legislators heard WVU law professor emeritus Frank Bowman's call for ethics legislation that would prohibit lobbyists from making campaign contributions to the public officials they lobby.
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West Virginia Chamber of Commerce head Steve Roberts tells me that former vice president Dick Cheney waived his appearance fee - which according to published reports is generally $75,000 - during his keynote speech at the state Chamber's annual meeting, since he was on a promotional tour for his book, "Exceptional."
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Finally, Deputy Revenue Secretary Mark Muchow's dry sense of humor was on display during a presentation to the legislative Joint Committee on Tax Reform on state severance taxes, as he went through the counties with the highest and lowest amounts of coal and natural gas production.
He noted that one now-misnamed county these days produces little in the way of coal, oil or natural gas: "There are no significant minerals in Mineral County."
Reach Phil Kabler at philk@wvgazette.com, 304-348-1220, or follow @PhilKabler on Twitter.