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Last night the House Telecommunications Committee had a scheduled committee hearing at the Jefferson City Country Club. The “refreshments” were reportedly provided by the Missouri Telecomm Industry Association. Our good friends at Progress Missouri attended and streamed the committee meeting dinner provided by lobbyists live from a country club dining room.

Much Twitter hilarity ensued:

Sean Nicholson @ssnich

Telecomm Cmte with country club ‘hearing’ tonight has exactly zero bills assigned to it at this time. #MOLeg 7:02 PM – 27 Jan 2015

Kasia Kovacs @kasiakovacs

Here’s an actual livestream of members our actual state government having an actual meeting at a country club [….] 8:01 PM – 27 Jan 2015

Michael Bersin @MBersin

Heh. “The sacrifices we make” You know, like dinners at a country club with lobbyists. Irony challenged. @ProgressMO #MOLeg 8:03 PM – 27 Jan 2015

tmservo433 ‏@tmservo433

“It’s like you lose track of watching your kids grow up.. hey.. so, what about this food?” @MBersin @ProgressMO #moleg 8:05 PM – 27 Jan 2015

And on and on.

A bill, introduced today by Representative Jeremy LaFaver (D):

HB 732

Prohibits General Assembly standing committees from holding meetings at any location other than the Capitol grounds

Sponsor: LaFaver, Jeremy (025)

Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2015

LR Number: 1718L.02I

Last Action: 01/28/2015 – Introduced and Read First Time (H)

Bill String: HB 732

Next Hearing: Hearing not scheduled

Calendar: Bill currently not on a House calendar

[….]

[emphasis in original]

Any bets on this coming to the floor for a recorded vote?

Heh:

Missouri Lawmakers Can’t Hold Dinner “Hearings” at Fancy Country Clubs Anymore

By Danny Wicentowski Wed., Jan. 28 2015 at 1:45 PM

….Enjoying a lobbyist-funded meal is hardly excessive for the Missouri legislature, but the stink raised after last night’s hearing got so bad House Speaker John Diehl announced this morning that, effective immediately, all house committee hearings must take place at the capitol, according to PoliticMO….

Was that so difficult?