Lawmakers recess for cash
With Congress out of session, USA Today reporter Fredreka Schouten reports today that lawmakers are taking their fundraising to ritzy locales. Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) invites guests to the Snake River Lodge & Spa near Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) asks his donors to a weekend in Vail. And Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI) is holding a fundraiser at Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach. (Here’s another ski weekend not mentioned in the story: a fundraiser in Park City, Utah for Republican Sen. Robert Bennett.)
From Schouten’s story:
Aides to the lawmakers said the events are driven by the need to raise growing amounts of campaign money. House and Senate candidates raised nearly $1.4 billion to fund campaigns in 2008, up from roughly $1 billion eight years earlier, according to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics.
“Almost every member of Congress is fundraising all the time,” said Julie DeWoody, the finance director of Perlmutter’s campaign. “It’s the reality of running for office and how expensive campaigns are.”
Schouten also points out what we’ve often noted here–that the 2007 ethics laws that bars members of Congress from accepting most gifts, travel and pricey meals does not extend to fundraising.
TweetPARTYFINDER™ Hints
Beneficiary: congressional candidate, lawmaker, or entity which collects funds raised at party
Host: person who is hosting party-often, but not always, a registered federal lobbyist
Venue Name: where the party is
Entertainment Type: type of gathering, such as "breakfast," "ski trip," "bowling"
Other Lawmakers Mentioned: lawmakers mentioned on invitation who are used as a draw for the event
Sunlight's Party Time is a project to track parties for members of Congress or congressional candidates that happen all year round in Washington, D.C. and beyond. (read more)
We also post information we receive about parties where members of Congress are expected to participate—such as convention or inaugural parties.
Since we don't hear about all the parties, you can also tell us if you know where the party is and we don't.
There are no comments yet...
Leave a Comment