T. Boone Pickens, billionaire industrialist and big Republican donor, is hosting a fundraiser tomorrow evening in Rancho Santa Fe, California, in honor of Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Calif. Pickens does not have top billing however. That honor goes to Speaker of the House, John Boehner, R-Ohio.

The fact that the Speaker is featured as an invitee to the Pickens-hosted fundraiser is what is particularly interesting about this invitation. As Politico reported today, Pickens has recently been involved in a public feud with the Koch brothers over the passage of H.R.  1380, a bill that would give tax breaks to the natural gas industry.

Pickens, who has been touting his “Pickens Plan” for American energy independence since 2008, owns a leading natural gas company and would stand to benefit significantly from the bill. For its part, Koch Industries claims to be against government subsidies that undermine the principles of free-market capitalism. Since the feud began, Republican members of congress have found themselves having to choose between two very influential Republican donors.

Rep. Bilbray is one of the co-sponsors of H.R. 1380. He is no stranger to the natural gas industry having received over $42,000 from Sempra Energy, a natural gas company headquartered just outside of Bilbray’s congressional district.

UPDATE: Party Time found that Boehner did not attend the scheduled fundraiser over the weekend and changed the headline to reflect this.

The week after AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka suggested that the labor union would challenge Democrats who fail to support the movement, six Democrats are holding fundraisers targeted at unions. While the events were scheduled well in advance of Trumka’s speech at the National Press Club, his words may have these Democrats toeing the labor line.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters are scheduled to host two fundraisers at their offices today. In the morning, Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y.,  will stop by for a “Labor Breakfast” and collect contributions of $250 to $5,000 while Rep. Brad Miller, D-N.C., will be honored in the evening at a “Labor Reception” where the checks will be written for $500 to $2,500.

Two other Democrats benefited from labor fundraisers yesterday. Rep. Brian Higgins, D- N.Y., was scheduled to be honored at a reception hosted by the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, an AFL-CIO affiliate. The suggested contribution levels for the event ranged from $250 to $2,500.  At the same hour, Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., was the beneficiary of a “Labor Breakfast,” hosted by the Teamsters. Suggested contributions to the Deutch campaign were $1,000 for a guest, and $2,500 as a host.

Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., will be honored tomorrow with a “Labor Lunch” at the offices of the American Federation of Teachers, another AFL-CIO affiliated union. Suggested contributions for the event start at $1,500 and max out at $5,000.

Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., the number three Democrat in the House, was the beneficiary of a fundraiser at a “Labor Lunch” yesterday at the headquarters of the Communications Workers of America, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO. Clyburn’s relationship with labor is an interesting one as he represents a district in a right to work state with low union membership. Additionally his district borders an area in which Boeing has recently opened a new manufacturing facility, which prompted an allegation of union intimidation from the National Labor Relations Board. Boeing also contributed $10,000 to the 2010 reelection campaign of Rep. Clyburn.

About three dozen lucky donors have the chance to gather at Charlie Palmer steakhouse tonight for a “roundtable on health care issues” featuring Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mike Enzi (R-WY), and Richard Burr (R-NC)–all of whom raise big bucks from the health care industry and sit on key health care committees.

A seat at the roundtable–only 35 available–costs a PAC $2,000, payable to the National Republican Senatorial Committee. A seat at the more exclusive dinner costs a PAC $5,000, and only 20 seats are available.

The national health care debate is at a key point, with Senate leaders hoping to complete a bill before the August recess. At the time of this posting, none of the senators’ offices had returned calls requesting information about tonight’s event.

Sen. Grassley’s top lifetime donors include health professionals, the insurance industry, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and nursing homes, and lobbyists. He is the ranking minority member of on the Senate Finance Committee. (We blogged here about a Grassley fundraiser hosted by an alternative health care lobbyist.) Grassley has gained fame recently for his idiosyncratic tweets, many on health care.

Sen. Enzi, who sits on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee, counts the pharmaceutical industry and health professionals as his top most generous lifetime donors. The HELP committee approved a health care reform bill on July 15 along party lines.

Sen. Burr’s top all-time donor is the pharmaceutical industry.  He also sits on the Senate HELP committee, and voted against the health care reform bill.

Edited  at 4:14 p.m. Eastern to add: This just in from Sen. Enzi’s press secretary, about the senator’s attendance at the health care roundtable tonight:

Senator Enzi attends numerous NRSC events throughout the year. Since he is knowledgeable about health care, being the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee ranking member, organizers asked him to speak on that topic. He agreed. Health care is #1 on the country’s agenda right now. It’s important and Senator Enzi is happy to explain this issue from his point of view whether it be at the NRSC or the Lions Club in Lander, Wyoming. Either place, he would say the same thing. As for the use of any money, that’s up to the NRSC.