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		East Midlands Tory MEP addresses American conference Monday, 2 August 2004 East Midlands MEP, Roger Helmer, spoke on Saturday to an influential conference in Seattle, USA. He was joined by over 2,000 state legislators, policy makers, and private sector members of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) at the groups' 31st Annual Meeting. He addressed the meeting as ALEC's first Adam Smith Scholar - a prestigious title to reflect Roger's commitment to Jeffersonian principles (and economics) - free markets, free enterprise, individual liberty and limited government. Mr Helmer's speech focused on the challenges faced by conservatives on both sides of the Atlantic. Talking about his role in the European Union, Mr Helmer slammed the mechanisms and future of the European project: "The European project, and the European institutions, are run by a political élite who are hooked on Jean Monet's fifty-year-old dream of a united Europe, but are increasingly out of touch with the opinions and aspirations of ordinary people. They talk the language of peace, freedom, justice, the rule of law, and democracy, yet the Europe they are creating is profoundly undemocratic, even anti-democratic." He went on to talk about the forthcoming US Presidential election, stating his support for President George Bush over the challenge of Senator John Kerry: "I believe a Kerry Presidency would mean protectionism at home and appeasement abroad. I believe a second Bush term will be good for prosperity and security not only in America, but around the world." Read Roger's speech in full Visit the ALEC website