Turned away from PhRMA event
Today began with Party Time being snubbed yet again, when the gatekeepers pleasantly but firmly turning me and Gabriela Schneider, the Sunlight Foundation’s communications director, away from the brunch party at the Denver Aquarium thrown by former member of Congress Billy Tauzin in his role as president and CEO of PhRMA.
The pharmaceutical industry, of course, contributes heavily to congressional candidates–$18 million in the 2008 election cycle alone, 50 percent to Democrats, 50 percent to Republicans–and spends even more on lobbying.
My unpopularity continued throughout the day as I chased down a few leads that went, well, nowhere. Wrong addresses, that sort of thing.
The only consolation we have here at Party Time is that our work is at least popular with the press and in the blogsophere. Many reporters and bloggers are writing about the private party scene here in Denver and at the GOP convention next week in Minneapolis/St. Paul and citing this website. Look for a roundup later.
Tweet 1 CommentPARTYFINDER™ 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.
