Missouri’s House of Representatives hasn’t just ended the practice of holding committee hearings outside the Capitol. Its committees will also no longer have meals during hearings.
House Speaker John Diehl, Junior, (R-Town and Country) said Tuesday he wants the decorum of those hearings to match that which is expected in the House Chamber.
“I’ve instructed my chairmen that there will be no eating or meals provided during committee hearings,” said Diehl.
Asked whether that was because some meals at committee hearings have been provided by lobbyists or organizations that hire them, Diehl suggested that wasn’t the only reason.
“I don’t like that either,” he told reporters.
He said that won’t be codified in a new rule, but he doesn’t expect anyone will break with that policy.
“The committee chairmen serve at my pleasure so I suspect that it will be followed.”
The change was praised by House Minority Leader Jake Hummel (D-St. Louis).
Earlier story: Missouri House GOP leadership discontinues out-of-capitol hearings
See a video of the Speaker’s comments, courtesy of Missouri House Communications: