We all know about how Speaker Rod Jetton sold committee chairmanships last year, naming Jane Cunningham as Chair of the Education Committee after she raised thousands of dollars from out of state pro-voucher groups, but now, the Missouri Senate is getting in on the pay-to-play action.
Today, a shakedown email went out from Donna English, who is married to Neil English, the Chief of Staff to Senate President Pro Tem Mike Gibbons. Click here for a pdf copy of the full email. [0]
In the email, sent to several dozen Capitol lobbyists, she notifies them of the opportunity to attend a series of "breakfast roundtable discussions" with each of the Senate Committee Chairs, for the low low price of $1,000 per breakfast.
You have to wonder if they even appreciated the irony of starting the breakfast roundtable series with the chair of the Ethics Committee.
Here's the full schedule:
| Date | Committee | Chair |
| 2/14/2006 | Rules, Jt. Rules, Resolutions and Ethics | Sen. Charlie Shields |
| 2/15/2006 | Ways and Means | Sen. Carl Vogel |
| 2/16/2006 | Financial, Government Organizations and Election | Sen. Delbert Scott |
| 2/21/2006 | Agriculture, Conservation, Parks, and Natural Resources | Sen. Dan Clemens |
| 2/22/2006 | Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight | Sen. John Cauthorn |
| 2/23/2006 | Commerce and Environment | Sen. David Klindt |
| 2/28/2006 | Pensions, Veterans' Affairs and General Laws | Sen. Jason Crowell |
| 3/1/2006 | Appropriations | Sen. Chuck Gross |
| 3/7/2006 | Aging, Families, Mental and Public Health | Sen. Norma Champion |
| 3/8/2006 | Economic Development, Tourism and Local Government | Sen. John Griesheimer |
| 3/9/2006 | Transportation | Sen. Bill Stouffer |
| 3/14/2006 | Small Business, Insurance and Industrial Relations | Sen. John Loudon |
| 3/15/2006 | Judiciary & Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence | Sen. Matt Bartle |
| 3/16/2006 | Education | Sen. Gary Nodler |
All Roundtables will be held from 8:00 a.m.--9:00 a.m. at the Jefferson City Country Club. Platinum sponsors are $5,000, Gold Sponsors are $2,500, and Silver Sponsors are $1,000.
Good government from these organized criminals is unavailable at any price.