ALEC, AMEREN and YOU

ALEC, AMEREN AND YOU While Missourians are struggling to pay their electric bills during the worst heat wave since the 1930's, their state legislators who belong to the American Legislative Exchange Council are partying at a Five Star hotel in Salt Lake City. And our electric company, AMEREN, is paying a portion of the cost of that party. Why? Because ALEC's corporate lobbyists write legislation our ALEC members in Jeff City will carry back and try to pass next spring. Several dozen companies have dropped their membership in ALEC recently because of ALEC's extreme position on a variety of different issues. ALEC is behind the attacks on the EPA (see www.alec.org/EPA's Regulatory Train Wreck: Strategies for State Legislators.) ALEC is also pushing states to require the teaching of climate change denial as a legitimate scientific theory in our schools. (see www.alecexposed.org.) As if their allegiance to the fossil fuel and nuclear industries weren't dangerous enough, ALEC pushes laws that cripple local governmental authorities when it comes to protecting us from pollution and other environmental hazards. So why is AMEREN supporting a lobbyist group that works directly against the best interest of Missouri citizens and its rate payers? How many millions of dollars does AMEREN spend on lobbying, and why should we give them even more money to work against our health and safety? The ALEC meeting this week is being held at the Grand America Hotel which boasts "lavish amenities" including a full-service spa, a lobby lounge featuring a harp serenade, afternoon tea service and down comforters in the suites which range from 700 to 880 square feet in size. Recently, a local St. Louis man died in his mobile home because he couldn't pay his air conditioning bill. His home was probably no bigger than one of the luxurious suites our state legislators and their families are enjoying in Salt Lake City. How can legislators who make aroung $40,000 a year afford such vacations? AMEREN customers indirectly subsidize the "Missouri Night" dinner and reception. This is what passes for economic justice today. The next Speaker of the Missouri House, Rep. Tim Jones of Eureka, is co-chair of the Missouri delegation to ALEC. What are the chances that he and the other ALEC members will protect Missourians from exploitation by a monopoly utility company? Tell the Public Service Commission to JUST SAY NO to yet another rate hike. STATEMENT READ BEFORE THE MISSOURI PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION HEARING ABOUT AMEREN'S REQUEST FOR A RATE INCREASE, JULY 26, 2010.