Bond said, "Really, my main goal when I’m spending time with a lawmaker away from the Capitol is just to get to know them better as a person. If they want to talk about OCPA’s objectives ... we can discuss all that as much as they want, but I’d prefer to talk about what’s on their mind that day.”
Top leaders
But the top legislative recipients of lobbyist meals were part of the Republican leadership or the House or Senate Appropriations Committee.
Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said, “I work year around on the budget, meeting with many different people and organizations. Anytime I meet with a lobbyist, they have to report it. I am very interested in learning all I can about the budget needs and the budget impact on Oklahomans. This requires a great deal of time and many meetings.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, of Oklahoma City, received nearly $3,000 worth of lobbyist-paid meals in 2019, while House Majority Leader Jon Echols, of Oklahoma City, received nearly $2,900 in meals.
Treat, who has been a top recipient for the last five years, can determine whether a bill gets a hearing in committee or on the Senate floor. The biggest decisions go through his office.
In 2019, Treat received five meals from lobbyist Brett Robinson, who represents health insurance, energy, beer and other interests; six meals from Robbie Squires, who represents Cox Communications, the cable and internet provider; and five meals from Mike Thompson, who represents the Choctaw Nation, the Epic charter school company and OG&E. Thompson bought Treat’s dinner on New Year’s Eve.
Treat said, “Mike, Robbie and Brett and their families have been close friends of mine and my family for many years, going back to long before I ever even considered running for elected office. As many friends do, we sometimes pay for each other’s meals. One thing that makes our friendship different is that they have to report buying my meal under the ethics rules for lobbyists regardless of what topics are discussed during the meal.”
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January 19, 2020 at 06:00PM
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Dining on steak dinners to sack lunches: Lobbyists pay over $600,000 to feed lawmakers, public officials in 2019 - Oklahoman.com
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