Scott Cupps

Rep. Scott Cupps, R-Shell Knob, made headlines in February after a contentious committee hearing with Missouri Treasurer Vivek Malek over unclaimed property advertisements placed on unregulated gambling machines.

At a hearing Tuesday, Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek said the idea to place ads on machines owned by Torch Electronics stems from a meeting he had in a Chesterfield airplane hangar owned by the company’s lobbyist.

Missouri Treasurer Vivek Malek dismissed concerns about legality of machines in letter to House chairman, says advertising costs nothing to promote Unclaimed Property program.

Missouri lawmakers are considering the biggest expansion of gambling in the state since voters approved riverboat — and ultimately riverside — casinos three decades ago.

Missouri’s governor hopes the legislature will pass his proposed raises for state employees in time for them to go into effect in February.