Missouri Legislators enjoy a free trip and get their corporate marching orders

Now we know which Missouri legislators went to the ALEC conference this year.  I wonder what right wing, anti-union legislation their corporate bosses will tell them to introduce this year?

ALEC Rock for ALEC Conference

Fired Up Missouri
Submitted by .Sean on July 27, 2012 - 9:46am
As Representatives Birther Tim Jones, Jason Smith, John Diehl, Caleb Jones, Shelley Keeney, Chuck Gatschenberger, Vicki Schneider and Chrissy Sommer and Senator Jane Cunningham enjoy their ALEC junket in Salt Lake City today, supported by Jefferson City lobbyists for MTIA, AMEC, CenturyLink, RAI, AT&T, MCTA, Comcast, Gamble & Schlemeier, Ameren and Peabody Energy, we bring you this great new animation on how the ALEC hijacks our lawmaking process across the country.

and from the Post Dispatch:

Republican lawmakers in Utah for ALEC event
July 27, 2012 3:00 pm  •  BY ELIZABETH CRISP
UPDATE: An earlier version of this story reported that Rep. Chrissy Sommer of St. Charles was among area lawmakers at the ALEC event in Utah. Sommer tells the Post-Dispatch she is not at the conference, despite the email invitation's mention of her.

JEFFERSON CITY  • Some key Republican lawmakers are in Utah this week for the American Legislative Exchange Council’s annual retreat, and tonight they are scheduled to attend the group’s “Missouri Night.”

According to an email invitation (via Fired Up! Missouri), lawmakers who had made plans to attend tonight’s party include: House Majority Leader (and likely next House Speaker) Tim Jones of Eureka, Reps. John Diehl of Town & Country, Chuck Gatschenberger of Lake St. Louis, Vicki Schneider of O'Fallon, Jason Smith of Salem, Caleb Jones of California, Shelley Keeney of Marble Hill and Sen. Jane Cunningham of Chesterfield.

The event is being held at Riverhorse on Main, a posh Park City eatery with a menu that features buffalo carpaccio, foie gras torchon, kobe beef steaks and Chardonnay poached lobster.

According to the email, sponsors include MTIA, AMEC, CenturyLink, RAI, AT&T, MCTA, Comcast, Gamble & Schlemeier, Ameren, Peabody Energy. Kansas City-based Cerner and Danny Pfeifer of Catalyst were listed as “committed to sponsoring.”

The American Legislative Exchange Council, commonly called ALEC, is a Washington-based nonprofit that promotes free-market and conservative proposals. In addition to legislators, its members include representatives from major corporations.

The group often creates model legislation that has made its way to capitals across the country, including Jefferson City.

A group earlier this year accused ALEC of having "secretive influence" in Missouri. Lawmakers who work with the group have defended it, saying that the organization gives legislators from different states an opportunity to share ideas.

Last year, more than a dozen Missouri lawmakers and their families attended the ALEC conference in New Orleans.

Elizabeth Crisp covers Missouri politics.

Tags
American Legislative Exchange Council, Jefferson City, Vicki A. Schneider, Cerner, Alec, Shelley Keeney, John Diehl, Jane Cunningham, Tim Jones, Caleb Jones, Jason Smith, Chrissy Sommer, Chuck Gatschenberger, Ameren, Comcast, Peabody Energy, Danny Pfeifer