Check Twitter for free food in state Capitol

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Workers in the Missouri Capitol are using the Internet to post tips on finding free grub.

Aficionados of free lunches and desserts have turned to Twitter to track free food opportunities and alert friends where to get a cheap meal.

And with state associations, universities and individual lobbyists all seeking to gain favor with lawmakers and remind policy makers of their interests, there is a lot of free food available during the first half of the year when the legislature meets.

The Jefferson City News Tribune reported that the creator of the food-tracking posts has not been identified. But several dozen people have registered to get updates from it. The first food bulletin appears to be sent Jan. 6 to advertise a buffet in the office of Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph. That Senate meal is held annually by the chamber's leadership on the first day of the legislative session.

The messages offer a glimpse of the Capitol as a cafeteria where caterers can set up everything from pancakes and breakfast buffets in committee rooms to barbecue in hallways and in the Rotunda between the House and Senate chambers on the third floor.

Some of the messages offer specific tips: "Ice cream and cookies? Yes, please. 3rd floor rotunda from 2-3." Others are more speculative offering forecasts of what could come: "Rumor has it there will be a taco bar."

The food updates are posted under the name "MOmunch." Organizers say on the website that "there's a free lunch to be had at the Capitol, and we'll help you find it."

Still other messages demonstrate a Capitol hierarchy in which certain members of the herd get to dine before others.

"If you're a real person, lunch starts at 11:48 in Sen. Vogel's office (321). Interns are asked to wait until 12:30."

Several of the food posts direct hungry people to Sen. Carl Vogel's office, directly across a hallway from the Senate chamber. Vogel, R-Jefferson City, does not use Twitter and rarely sends e-mails. He was first elected to the legislature in 1990 and cannot run for re-election because of term limits.

Vogel said his office frequently provides snacks and holds Wednesday luncheons mainly for senators and their staff members. The food is prepared by Vogel's staff and paid for by various groups and individuals. Vogel said he did not know about the online Capitol menu.

"We send out a mass e-mail to our e-mail list here on the Senate side, and lately, we've been getting some House members to come down, and we're fine with that," he said.