Rebecca Berg/Missouri Digital News
Theo Keith / KCOU News/ Mar. 15, 2010
JEFFERSON CITY — Taxpayer money paid for belly dancers to perform on the steps of the state Capitol today, but hardly anyone showed up even with the free entertainment and food.
It was all part of the Census Bureau’s campaign to get people counted, as some volunteers worried Missouri would lose a congressional seat this year.
When the belly dancers started, the few people at the event stopped to take out their cameras. The state’s Office of Administration spokeswoman says the belly dancers were an attempt at diversity.
The spokeswoman blamed the low turnout on the weather, although at 50 degrees and cloudy, the weather isn’t unusual for this time of year.
Two state employees said they just came outside for the free food, but did not think the event would help increase participation in the Census.
The federal government is spending $15 billion to fund the Census. The state says today’s event cost Missouri $500.
