Several lawmakers are sending out invitations to the most festive of May holidays, Cinco de Mayo. 22 Democratic representatives are listed as invitees for six upcoming Cinco de Mayo events in the Party Time database. One fundraiser in particular, the “Reception Celebrating Cinco de Mayo” on May 3, lists 19 members of Congress as invitees. The scheduled event is to support the Congressional Hispanic Caucus/ Building our Leadership Diversity PAC (CHC BOLD).

Three of the invitees to the CHC BOLD event are also hosting fundraisers of their own. Rep. Charles Gonzalez, D-Texas, the current chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, will hold a “Cinco de Mayo Birthday Celebration” at the 21 Century Townhouse on May 5. Rep. Joe Baca, D-Calif., is also planning a “Cinco de Mayo Celebration” on May 4 at the UPS Townhouse. The invitation suggests that for a contribution of $250 an invitee will earn the title of “amigo”.

Rep. Joe Pastor, D-Ariz., will be celebrating the Mexican victory at the Battle of Puebla on May 5 at the offices of the lobbying firm Dutko Group at 412 First Street SE. If Rep. Pastor decides to attend all the Cinco De Mayo functions for which he is a featured guest then his event would be the last in a three fundraiser whirlwind for the congressman who is listed on the invitation for Rep. Tim Ryan’s, D-Ohio, “Second Annual Tequila Tasting” as well as the CHC BOLD event. Also, Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md., has scheduled a fiesta on May 5 at Lounge 201 and Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., is holding a “Cuatro de Mayo Party” on May 4 at the Strategic Healthcare Townhouse at 230 Second Street SE.

In addition to the events held by several Democrats, the Party Time database has a Cinco de Mayo event invitation for a single Republican. Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., will be starting things off early on May 5 with a “Cinco de Mayo Breakfast” at Tortilla Coast. Interestingly the Gosar event is the only Cinco de Mayo event that Party Time is aware of that will be taking place at a Mexican restaurant.

Looking to score some pots of gold for their campaigns, this week several lawmakers will be attending St. Patrick’s Day-themed fundraisers in their honor. The celebration kicks off early tomorrow, when Kevin Brady, R-Texas, will be honored at a “Celebration of the Irish“ at a townhouse near the Capitol. Contributors looking to get the coveted “Pot of gold” moniker will have to shell out $2,500, while contributing $1,000 will earn the title “Shamrock.” If you are only a wee contributor under the age of 30, you will be asked to donate only $250, but you will be stuck with the title of “Leprechaun.”

Other Mar. 15 St. Paddy’s Day celebrations include a classic “St. Patrick’s Day Reception“ at the Democratic National Headquarters benefiting Tim Holden, D-Pa. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., will be honored at his annual, and only slightly less traditional, “Sushi and Shamrocks Fest“  at the Eris Group Townhouse. The following day will see Irish-themed events benefiting Dale Kildee, D-Mich., at the National Democratic Club townhouse (“Pre-St. Patrick’s Day Celebration”) and Lynn Jenkins, R-Kan., at the Capitol Hill Club (“Tribute to the Irish”).

Plenty of St. Patrick’s Day events are planned for the 17th itself. An “Irish Breakfast Reception” in honor of Bill Keating, D-Mass., is planned for the morning at the Strategic Healthcare’s townhouse. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., will be the beneficiary of a “St. Patrick’s Day Lunch” at the Associated General Contractors  townhouse. In the evening, the Democratic Club will see a collection of “Pots of Gold,” “Lucky Charms,” “Leprechauns” and “Shamrocks,” as attendees to Joe Donnelly’s, D-Ind.,”St. Patrick’s Day Celebration” are asked to contribute $5,000, $2,500, $1,000 and $500, respectively. Also, an annual “St. Paddy’s Day Reception” will be held for Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., over at the Erickson & Co. townhouse. New York’s Bill Owens, D-N.Y., will be a beneficiary of a luncheon at the ever so appropriate Dubliner (“St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon”), and later on in the evening the party will move upstairs to the Phoenix Park Hotel for a St. Patrick’s Day reception in honor of California’s Jerry McNerney, D-Calif. (“St. Patrick’s Day Celebration”).  Also of note, Elliot Engel, D-N.Y., will be honoring not just one, but two ethnicities, at the 5th annual “Kiss Me I’m Yiddish” luncheon at the National Democratic townhouse.

Not to be outdone by any of these one to two hour events, however,  Mike Michaud, D-Maine, plans to celebrate the patron saint of the Emerald Isle with a two day “St. Patrick’s Day Maine Winter Sports Getaway Weekend.” Activities will include a kick off dinner on Friday night, and on Saturday guests will choose to enjoy either skiing or snowmobiling followed by a Happy Hour Maine Beer Tasting.

On Valentine’s Day, at least two members of Congress are using love to attract some special interest honey. Two other members also planned Cupid-themed events in advance of the holiday this week.

Rep. Connie Mack’s, R-Fla., is putting on a couples-themed, early-evening, wine bar event with his wife, Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Calif. (Sorry, Party Time only has a blurb, not the full-page invitation).

The congressional pair wanted to put on an event for other couples, said GOP Fundraiser Rob Jennings, who is accepting checks for the affair. “They thought it would be fun to have a one hour reception before votes and try to get people together to celebrate Valentine’s Day,” he added.

The event is also an occasion for PAC representatives and lobbyists to let the congressman know their love equals $1,000. But, Jennings said, the event is just like many others in the nation’s capital.

“In Washington everyone finds an excuse one way or another to have a fundraiser,” he said.

If not romance, Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Maine, is luring lobbyists with the promise of the holiday’s other mainstay: chocolate. The Democrat is asking PACs for between $1,000 and $5,000 to attend his lunch at a classic D.C. establishment. That is, according to the invitation, as Michaud’s office has not confirmed whether the event will happen.

This week, at least two other members tried to romance their donors. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., invited “you and your sweetheart” to an evening reception with candies, asking for donations between $1,000 and $5,000. Speier’s chief of staff would not say whether the fundraiser actually took place, saying that she does not comment to the press on the congresswoman’s fundraising activities despite the fact that the aide is listed as the person to contact to RSVP for the event.

Earlier this week, Rep. Don Manzullo, R-Ill., and his wife invited donors — and their significant others — to their annual Valentine’s Day dinner at an Italian restaurant. Manzullo’s fundraising consultant has not responded to an email confirming if this event was held.

But not all of Monday’s gatherings are for lovers.

Joe Pitts, R-Pa., is putting on an intimate, $2,000-per-head, lunch but there is “nothing romantic” about it, said fundraising consultant Meredith Mino.

“It just happened to fall on that day,” she said.

On Wednesday, the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) is putting on an enticing holiday party for members of Congress: the invitation calls it a celebration with wine and spirits, and it’s at Wolfgang Puck’s upscale restaurant The Source, down the street from the Capitol on the ground floor of the sleek Newseum building.

And as Congress is considering tougher food safety laws which affect farms, the American Farm Bureau has invited every member of Congress, some executive branch officials and many others to its “Taste of the States” event Tuesday for a stand up buffet, featuring food sent by each state’s farm bureau.

These are just two of the many invitation-only Congressional holiday parties populating inboxes of Capitol offices this holiday season. And the groups doing the inviting — lobby shops, trade associations and think tanks — are trying to cross the ‘t’ and dot the ‘i’ in ethics.

“We don’t provide forks and knives,” the Farm’s Bureau’s director of congressional relations CJ Karney said. Even the beef barbeques donated by some member states have to be hand-eaten, he added.

Many groups, including WSWA, even note on the invitation that the event  “qualifies under the reception exemption.” WSWA is likely referring to the so-called “toothpick rule,” where, at receptions members of Congress may accept food as long as it’s not a meal (bagels and cocktails are okay; steaks are not).

Ethics laws have become tricky since a ban on gifts to members of Congress was passed by Congress in 2007 under the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (HLOGA). Although the rules come with 26 exemptions, most of which are available to lobbyists, they are much more stringent than they were, according to political law guru Brett Kappel.

“The gift ban was expanded exponentially to the groups the employ lobbyists and retain outside lobbyists. That’s the most significant change from HLOGA,” Kappel said.

The Farm Bureau has been careful with political appointees too, since Obama instituted a lobbyist gift ban for those officials. The Bureau prepares receipts for these officials stating the value of the reception.

Depending on the holiday party, it may not be easy to sneak in. Tonight’s Congressional reception at the offices of the influential Chamber of Commerce is booked, according to an automated email message. And almost 200 people have already responded “yes” to the holiday reception put on by lobbying firm Dow Lohnes Government Strategies Wednesday at Sonoma, a swanky downtown establishment, next week, according to firm administrator Laurel Starkey.

Though it is unclear who has been invited to these shindigs, in the case of Dow Lohnes, plenty of executives from energy and telecommunications firms along with members of Congress and their staff working on such topics were likely on the list. The firm’s leadership is made up of past House Energy and Commerce staffers Stephen Sayle and Rick Kessler, and former National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) deputy chief counsel Kenneth Salomon.

Kessler is a former chief of staff to House Energy panel chair emeritus John Dingell, D-Mich., and has hosted fundraisers for him, according to Party Time’s invitations. This year, on behalf of the Electric Power Supply Association, the former Democratic aide lobbied his fomer boss’s chief of staff on carbon sequestration loan programs and a long trail of energy legislation, according to the firm’s disclosures. He is an energy wonk when it comes to carbon-capture technology, which many utilities look to K Street to promote. Dingell was a co-sponsor of the Carbon Capture and Storage Early Deployment Act.

Meanwhile, on the same night as the Dow Lohnes party, nuclear power interest group the Nuclear Energy Institute is putting on a Congressional reception across the street from the Capitol at the Congressional staple Charlie Palmer Steak.

A couple of telecom groups are also joining the party. The National Association of Broadcasters will have an event at its Dupont Circle offices on Thursday and the Telecommunication Industry Association is having a party at Occidental Grill downtown Tuesday.

To see what other groups are putting on festive meet and greets, search for “holiday” under “Entertainment Type” at the top of the page.

Minority Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va., would seem to have plenty to be thankful for, given that he’s set to become the new House Majority Leader.

But next Wednesday, in an effort to raise dough for his leadership PAC, he and his supporters plan to air the year’s grievances and perform the feats of strength, both important parts of Festivus, a grumpy, anti-consumerist holiday popularized by Frank Costanza on Seinfeld.

That is, at least according to the email invitation to the event, which asks donors to come ready: “Don’t forget to come prepared to air your grievances,” the message reads. The event flyer includes a graphic of a bamboo tree with “Feats of Strength” and “Air Your Grievances” ornaments.  But a tree is sacrilegious for Festivus observers, who celebrate the holiday with a bare pole because, as Frank Costanza put it, “It requires no decoration. I find tinsel distracting.”

The event is set for Wednesday at Ceiba, an elegant, downtown D.C. restaurant, the flyer says, and is asking PACs for as much as $2,500 although it’s “complimentary for maxed donors.” Cantor’s office did not return calls about the event.

For those not intimately familiar with the Festivus traditions, the airing of grievances is when each family member takes a turn criticizing each other’s actions over the past year. The feats of strength occurs when the head of the household selects one person to wrestle with; until the leader is pinned down, the holiday is not supposed to end.

ERIC PAC doled out more funds – nearly $1.4 million — than any other leadership PAC for the midterm elections, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Political insiders also looking to celebrate Cinco de Mayo today might consider the following political fundraisers around Washington tonight:

• Rep. Joe Baca, D-Calif., will be hosting a fiesta at UPS Townhouse tonight (nothing captures the bright colors of an authentic Cinco de Mayo celebartion like Big Brown) where political action committee hosts can contribute $5,000 and individuals can contribute $250. The invite notes that there will be LIVE Musica!
• Rep. Ed Pastor, D-Ariz., will be hosting a Cinco de Mayo Celebration at the offices of lobbying firm Dutko Worldwide (they’re helping corporations spend other people’s money to invest in Latin America, among other places) with cuisine provided by the Oaxaca Restaurant in Phoenix. Political action committees can contribute $1,000, while individuals can contribute $500.
• Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., will host a Cinco de Mayo celebration for his Wyoming Values Political Action Committee at the La Loma Mexican Restaurant in Washington where political action committee hosts can pay $1,000 and individuals can pay $100 to attend.
• Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md., will be hosting a fundraiser at Lounge 201, where hosts can contribute $5,000 and individuals can contribute $500.

One lawmaker couldn’t actually wait until the fifth of May to celebrate the fifth of May. Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., hosted a Cinco de Mayo celebration last night at the Capitol Hill Club. He didn’t list a contribution amount.

Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 and is NOT a celebration of Mexican Independence Day.

To find themed invites like Cinco de Mayo using Party Time, type in your search terms into the Partyfinder at the top of the page under the “Entertainment Type” drop-down category.

Recent reports  (Politico here, the Hill here) say that lobbyist sponsored holiday parties for members of Congress will be modest this year, thanks to the recession, and, some say, tougher ethics rules. However, our Party Time database nevertheless documents more than 135 congressional fundraising parties this month–and counting–several with holiday themes.

While an ethics law passed in 2007 placed new restrictions lobbyist-sponsored bashes for lawmakers, these do not apply to fundraising events. Lobbyists may host or attend fundraisers with no restrictions other than the campaign contribution limits and reporting requirements under federal campaign finance law.

Upcoming holiday-themed fundraising parties include:

• a holiday breakfast next Tuesday for Rep. Mazie Hirono at the Democratic Club townhouse;
• a holiday reception yesterday evening for Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid at the Hotel George;
• A holiday weekend in New York December 11-13 benefiting Rep. Carolyn Maloney, featuring several meals, two tickets to the Broadway production of South Pacific, and entre to “two issues breakfasts during 2010 in Washington, DC.” (Perhaps they meant 2011?) Cost is $5,000 per PAC, given or raised, or $4,800 per individual, the legal maximum.

Party Time’s database shows only 38 congressional fundraisers held in December 2008. It is difficult to say whether this year’s increase is because there is more partying, or because we’re a year away from an election instead of one month after one, or–another possiblity–because our anonymous lobbyist sources have given us more invitations this holiday season than last.

Politico takes a look at the holiday party scene in Washington this year, and unlike ABC’s blotter the other day, finds it wanting. There are fewer parties this year, according to the article–a function of the recession, hangover from the convention, and the parties anticipated for the presidential inaugural:

Things are so sparse this year that Washington fundraiser Monica Notzon didn’t even bother creating the holiday party calendar she usually distributes to her clients, who include 20 GOP members of the House and Senate.

The economy notwithstanding, Notzon said the party shortage of 2008 is part of a predictable cycle. “Every four years, we get in this weird place where we blow it out at convention, then you have an election, and then you have Christmas, and then you have Inauguration. And it’s just too much,” she says.

The Distilled Spirits Council is holding off on partying until the inaugural. The National Association of Manufacturers pared back its holiday party for employees only. Debbie Dingell, wife of Rep. John Dingell (D-MI),  and Marlene Malek, wife of GOP businessman Fred Malek, canceled their annual holiday lunch.

Yet Politico notes that some parties are still going strong:

Washington lobbying firm Quinn Gillespie & Associates threw its holiday party last week, and the event was as packed as ever. “We had the same number of people we have had in past years,” Jack Quinn says. “We had terrific feedback from clients and friends who were disappointed that we didn’t hold a holiday party in 2007.”

Party Time readers may remember that Quinn Gillespie was the source for our initial list of convention parties back in the summer. So these guys not only know where the parties are–they know how to party.

Of course whether and if and how there are more or less parties in any given time is ultimately a guessing game. There is no formal disclosure of these events. Here are Party Time, we do our best to bring these parties to light by collecting and posting as many invitations as we can from anonymous lobbyist sources.

ABC news is on the party watching case, reporting on holiday parties being thrown for members of Congress and staffers by the likes of the Nuclear Energy Institute, Southern Company, Lockheed Martin, the Air Transport Association, and the the U.S. Telecom Association:

One day after the U.S. officially acknowledged it was in a recession, it was party time in Washington for lawmakers and their staff, courtesy of the nation’s corporate lobbyists.

For weeks, invitations and event lists have been circulating on Capitol Hill, carrying promises of open bars and free food. Though some organizations say they have cut back on events in the wake of the sharpest economic downturn since the Great Depression, many of 2008 ’s parties are shaping up to look a lot like the parties of earlier years.

These parties appear not to be fundraisers, but rather gatherings designed to fall under ethics rules pertaining to receptions (food must be limited to hors d’oeurves, beverages, i.e. the “toothpick rule”).

Yours truly is quoted in the story. I’d add to my comments there that the problem with these events is that they are hidden from the public eye. While these parties may be publicized in lobbyist circles around town, the only way the general public hears about them is because of the enterprising reporters at places like ABC News and the efforts we make here. So while it’s true ordinary people don’t get invited to these events, what’s even worse is that they don’t even know they take place.