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A New Kind of Breakfast Club

February 1, 2006
By: Andrea Ramey
State Capital Bureau

A new kind of Breakfast Club is meeting in Jefferson City.

We're not talking about the popular 80's movie, we're talking about Missouri lawmakers.

Andrea Ramey has more from the state Capitol.

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Chairman of State Senate Committees want lobbyists to have breakfast with them... but at a cost.

For $1,000, a lobbyist can meet with a Republican chairman and discuss their issues.

The arrangement drew quick critism from St. Louis Democratic Senator Joan Bray.

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Contents: "It doesn't smell right. It looks like people paying to have access to publicly elected officials who should be accessible to the public at no cost. Ironically, the first meeting is with the ethics chairman."

Bray added it would be naive to believe that this kind of money doesn't buy influence.

From the state Capitol, I'm Andrea Ramey.

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According to state Senate Democrats something smells bad in Jefferson City.

Andrea Ramey has more from the state Capitol.

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Senate committee Chairmen are planning a series of breakfasts with lobbyists.

Meetings with lobbyists is nothing new in Jefferson City, but these breakfasts come at a high cost.

For $1,000 to $5,000 lobbyists can meet with the influential Republican Chairmen and discuss thier client's issues.

St. Louis Democrat Senator Joan Bray says Republicans are blurring the line between legislator and lobbyist.

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Contents: "I think it is naive for anybody to say or think that political contributions of this magnitude would not effect how the Senate Majority would deal with the issues. It does effect them."

Senators will hold all breakfasts at the Jefferson City Country Club.

From the state Capitol, I'm Andrea Ramey