Tagged: mo lawmakers

It's becoming harder to track how much money is being spent to catch the ear of Missouri lawmakers as they increasingly reimburse lobbyists for freebies.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that reimbursing lobbyists keeps lawmakers names off lobbyists' monthly expense reports.

The reimbursements become controversial when campaign funds are used to pay back lobbyists. That's because state law says campaign contributions "shall not be converted to any personal use."

Several Missouri legislators appear to have been defeated in their party primaries.

Unofficial results from Tuesday's elections show voters ousting a Democratic state senator from St. Louis and two House Democrats from the St. Louis area.

In southwestern Missouri, a Republican House member was trailing Wednesday in a race close enough that a recount could be requested.

In addition, newly redrawn House districts matched up Democratic incumbents in four St. Louis area races.