Congress is working pretty hard this week (see a few of the scheduled hearings here, here and here).  However, the busy work schedule isn’t stopping–or maybe it’s even inspiring–legislators to party hard in their free time.  For today’s date alone, June 16, we have 33 fundraising events in the Party Time database.

Perhaps the greatest similarity between all of these events is that, with only a handful of exceptions, the choice of venue and mode of entertainment sound, well, boring.  I enjoy shrimp cocktails and Maryland crabcakes as much as anyone else, but how many private lunch buffets in the Blue Room can one legislator stand? Some of our elected officials’ favorite venues are beyond tired.

There are a few legislators who are showing some creativity. Rep. Tom Latham (R, IA-4) is hosting a fundraiser at the Starfish Café. He’s asking for $2,500 from PACs and $1,500 from individual donors (and that gorgonzola pear salad looks like it might be worth every penny). Rep. Parker Griffith (D, AL-5) is hosting a dinner at Bobby Van’s Grill—his first event at this location according to our records. While his adventurism is surely to be applauded, it may be poorly rewarded according to one Washington Post reader review.

To round out this 33-fundraising-event day, Rep. Darrell Issa (R, CA-49) is hosting his 8th annual Issa Cream Event. He’s asking PACs for $1,000 and individuals for $500.  The invitation lists 13 additional House Reps. as “special guests”–which just goes to show that everyone loves ice cream. Or issa cream. Or whatever.

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