Gov. Greitens courts wealthy donors to Koch network at Colorado resort

Gov. Eric Greitens left Missouri last weekend to speak to a roomful of well-heeled conservative donors in Colorado, raising questions about whether he'll grant a request for what could be a third special session of the 2017 summer.

USA Today reported Sunday that Greitens, a Republican, spoke to 400 contributors at a luxury resort in Colorado Springs as part of a three-day private retreat assembled by Charles Koch, a billionaire who has spent considerable sums influencing politics in Missouri and around the country.

"You have to invest in governors because we are getting things done in states," Greitens said while touting local labor reform efforts, according to USA Today. "... We are able to drive tremendous change."

And though Missouri's part-time legislature completed its regularly scheduled session more than a month ago, more laws targeting unions could be passed as early as this summer — if a conservative nonprofit funded by Charles Koch and his brother David has its way.

About two weeks ago, Americans for Prosperity wrote to top GOP Missouri lawmakers to request another special session. The law they seek would require unions to hold regular recertification elections.

Greitens was one of three Republican governors speaking Saturday night, along with Govs. Matt Bevin of Kentucky and Greg Abbott of Texas.

The appearance before a crowd of wealthy conservatives, each of whom gives at least $100,000 to the Koch network each year, could also fuel speculation that Greitens is laying the groundwork for a future run for national office. Greitens has made numerous high-profile appearances on national conservative media outlets since becoming governor.

Greitens also relayed the story of signing a copy of a ride-hailing regulation law as part of a trip to Taco Bell with a Lyft driver, and made the case for investing in gubernatorial races, calling states "the laboratories of democracy."

Democrats seized on the trip as a way to criticize Greitens for not commenting on ongoing efforts to scrap the Affordable Care Act, for the nonprofit his staffers run that doesn't disclose its donors and for traveling to the resort while state lawmakers are in Jefferson City at his behest.

Spokespeople for Greitens did not immediately respond when asked about the nature and purpose of Greitens' trip or whether there was any connection to Americans for Prosperity's wish for more summer lawmaking.

However, Greitens' official spokesman, Parker Briden, did address the governor's view on the Senate GOP proposal to repeal and replace Obamacare when asked by the News-Leader on Thursday.

"Governor Greitens is committed to repealing Obamacare, which has driven up the cost of healthcare for Missourians all across the state," Briden said. "We are still reviewing the specifics of the Senate bill, which only became public earlier today. We recognize that Obamacare is unsustainable and that part of the right path forward is giving states like Missouri more freedom to design solutions that work for them."

Greitens previously called lawmakers back to Jefferson City to pass legislation meant to attract a steel mill and an aluminum smelter to southeast Missouri, and the former Navy SEAL has teamed up with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to rally in Springfield for the current crackdown on abortions.

Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley also has trekked west this year for a Koch retreat. In January, Hawley took a personal trip to Palm Springs, California, to speak at a roundtable about federalism.

Hawley, like Greitens, is a rising Republican star. He has been asked by prominent Missouri businessman Sam Fox to run for U.S. Senate but has not definitively said whether he will oppose Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill next year.

USA Today reporter Fredreka Schouten contributed to this story.