MSU extends contract with lobbyist

The Missouri State University Board of Governors yesterday voted to extend its contract with legislative consultant Jerry Burch.

The one-year extension, Sept. 1, 2013-Aug. 31, 2014, must be ratified by the full MSU governing board when it meets June 21 in Kansas City, according to a news release.

Burch, who has served as MSU's legislative consultant since 1990, will be paid $80,424 for the upcoming year, a 2 percent increase consistent with the university faculty and staff for the year. The increase for Burch represents the first time his fee has been raised in five years. He also will receive $9,000 to assist the university's legislative interns, consistent with the amount he received during the past year.

“By any measure, this past legislative session was a good one for Missouri State,” MSU President Clif Smart said in the release. “A great deal of credit for that goes to Jerry Burch. He has been an effective lobbyist for the university for 23 years, and we look forward to more successes this coming year.”