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PRESS RELEASE: ‘Country club’ hearings an inherent conflict of interest

For Immediate Release:                                       For more information contact:

Jan. 28, 2015                                              Rep. Jake Hummel at (573) 751-0438

Rep. Jeremy LaFaver at (573) 751-3666

 

‘Country club’ hearings an inherent conflict of interest

House Democrats support legislation banning the practice

 

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – House Democrats today announced their uniform opposition to so-called “country club” hearings, also known as “steakhouse hearings,” which are sham legislative committees whose primary purpose is to provide lawmakers with free meals at expensive restaurants with lobbyists with business before those committees picking up the tab.

 

The House Telecommunications Committee held such a hearing last night at the Jefferson City Country Club, with the Missouri Telecommunications Association paying the bill. No House Democrats attended. The House Utility Infrastructure Committee was scheduled to do the same tonight, courtesy of the Missouri Energy Development Association. No House Democrats planned to attend.

 

“This practice screams conflict of interest, and I’m very proud no House Democrats are participating,” said House Minority Leader Jake Hummel, D-St. Louis. “Country club hearings are just the latest symbol of what’s wrong with Missouri’s anything-goes ethics rules.”

 

When a lobbyist buys a meal for an individual lawmaker, that expense shows up on the lawmaker’s ethics report. However, when a meal is purchased for a group of lawmakers, doesn’t appear on any individual lawmaker’s report. As a result, country club hearings are totally lacking in transparency.

 

State Rep. Jeremy LaFaver, D-Kansas City, will be filing legislation today banning the practice of holding official legislative hearings outside of the Capitol.

 

“The people’s business belongs in the Capitol, the people’s building,” LaFaver said.

 

 

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