A little slice of St. Joseph found its way into the tummies of anyone roaming the Missouri Capitol’s third floor Tuesday afternoon.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, again served as host of the Senate’s annual pie day.

More than 150 circles of crusty goodness from St. Joseph’s Jerre Anne Cafeteria & Bakery lined the hallway outside of his office.

Pie flavors included: apple; sugar-free apple; cherry; sugar-free cherry; custard; pumpkin; rhubarb; strawberry; peach; banana; lemon; coconut; chocolate meringue; pecan; raisin; raisin cream and derby (apparently a flavor befitting the Capitol, what with its inclusion of bourbon as a key ingredient).

On the Senate floor, Mr. Shields announced that no gooseberry pies made it to this year’s celebration because of an apparent shortage. Mr. Shields joked the shortage was due to the gooseberry’s recent addition in ethanol mixtures.

Now, the details.

The pies cost $1,910.47, courtesy of 11 lobbyists.

Topping the list of pie sponsors is David Hale of the Missouri Hospital Association. The group represents Heartland Health, Mr. Shields’ employer (he’s the hospital’s marketing/communications officer).

The association also is making headlines this spring because of its entanglement in Insure Missouri. The governor’s plan to provide health insurance to roughly 200,000 Missourians is on hold while the association lobbies against legislation from Rep. Dr. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, that would enact the plan.

The association backs Insure Missouri, but opposes a controversial measure Dr. Schaaf has attached to it that’s aimed at increasing hospital competition. And House Speaker Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, is backing Dr. Schaaf, so he won’t bring up the measure without the add-on.

Still no word on any progress in that debacle and if either party will eat humble pie before May 16, legislative session’s end.

A hearing on a clean bill that only would enact Insure Missouri goes before a health care transformation committee Dr. Schaaf chairs on Wednesday. Dr. Schaaf said if that happened, he would add his own language on in committee.

In the meantime, I’d hate to leave out any of the other pie contributors.

Also on the list are: Mark Rhodes, a lobbyist for a St. Joseph-Buchanan County partnership; David Klarich of AT&T; David Winton of BJC Healthcare; Mike Winter; Sherry Doctorian; Jim Moody; Jorgen Schlemeier; Brent Hemphill and John Bardgett.