Conservative Pols, Activists Converging On St. Charles Saturday

The St. Charles Convention Center will be a hub of activity for politicos Saturday as the building hosts a regional Conservative Political Action Conference or CPAC, sponsored by The American Conservative Union. National political figures, including former GOP presidential candidates Rick Santorum and Rick Perry are among those slated to speak.

Click here to read the conference agena

Utah Senator Mike Lee, who has emerged as a key player in the debate over a GOP push to defund the Affordable Care Act as part of the latest budget bill, is also a confirmed speaker at the event.

For Santorum, the former Pennsylvania Senator and 2012 Republican presidential candidate, may have warm memories upon his return to St. Charles. Santorum celebrated his ceremonial victory over Mitt Romney in Missouri's non-binding primary with supporters at the convention center. Romney ultimately won the state's delegates.

Among the subjects up for discussion in group panels Saturday are immigration and tax reform. Perry, the Texas Governor and also a 2012 presidential candidate, will be returning to Missouri not long after a high-profile campaign to promote Texas as a landing spot for Missouri jobs. Perry and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon got into a virtual shouting match over Nixon's opposition to a GOP tax reform measure in the state legislature, which Nixon said would have led to cuts in education and other state services. Republicans earlier this month were unable to override Nixon's veto of the bill.

Patch will have CPAC coverage throughout the day Saturday.

The cost at the door for tickets: $200 for VIP registration, $75.00 for general registration and $35 for students with an ID.