In 2001, Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer was a vocal opponent, in fact the ONLY opponent, of a bill targeting patient abuse at nursing home, while he was a board member of the St. Elizabeth Care Center and received income for his work. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Craig Hosmer of Springfield, would require nursing home staff to report any abuse of elderly patients promptly to police.

Luetkemeyer was the only member of the Missouri House of Representatives to vote against HB 349. The vote was 153 to 1.

“Blaine Luetkemeyer took money from a for-profit nursing home, sat on its board and voted against the safety of seniors to benefit his own bank account,” Baker spokesperson Paul Tencher said. “Luetkemeyer used his position as a legislator to enrich himself and protect his interests instead of vulnerable patients of nursing homes.”

Missouri Ethics Commission financial disclosures show Luetkemeyer received income from the St. Elizabeth Care Center, based in Elizabeth, MO from 2000 until his final report in 2004. The House Journal for April 26, 2001 shows Luetkemeyer was the lone vote against the bill. In an Associate Press story from April 10, 2001, Luetkemeyer said nursing home facilties were “heavily regulated” already.

“Blaine Luetkemeyer is a businessman and an insurance executive with a record of opposition to regulation even in the case of patients in nursing homes. He deregulated the sub prime loan market in Missouri and he was the only member of the entire Missouri House of Representatives to vote against protecting seniors. I guess Mr. Luetkemeyer wanted to let the market take care of protecting the residents of St. Elizabeth Care Center too.”