Mo. Nuclear Plant Bill Prompts Rival Rallies

CHRIS BLANK

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Rival interest groups held competing rallies Wednesday while waging a lobbying effort over legislation designed to help AmerenUE build a second nuclear power plant in Missouri.

A group that supports the legislation brought about 100 union members, college students and small business owners to lobby lawmakers and show their support at the Capitol.

Shortly before that, 16 AARP members formed a short-lived picket line outside AmerenUE's office in Jefferson City in opposition to the legislation.

Neither group fit the profile of a stereotypical rally.

AARP protesters carried signs proclaiming that the bill amounted to a new tax and that "rate hikes are a bad idea in a bad economy." But some of the AARP protesters carried cups from nearby coffee shops and did more laughing and talking than chanting. The opponents moved away from AmerenUE's building after a lone television camera packed up.

Many of the supporters of the legislation wore suits and ties or union T-shirts and quietly listened as lawmakers supporting the AmerenUE-backed legislation explained their case. The supporters, organized by Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future, gathered on the Capitol steps outside the governor's office.