Four top aides to House Democratic leaders have been tapped to host a fundraiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee tonight, at least the second time in less than one month that the campaign arm tapped aides for its cause.

Unlike the $100-per head fundraiser last month, this event may be out of reach for young donors, asking for $500 to spend an hour-and-a-half with the aides at Ping Pong Dim Sum in downtown Washington.

One of the staffers, Jason Cole, the chief of staff to DCCC leader Jim Himes, D-Conn., is a repeat host from the March event. The others are Stacey Bernards and Brian Romick, top aides to Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, R-Md., and Hayden Rogers, the chief of staff to Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., a leader of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition.

There is nothing improper about aides participating in fundraising when not working in their official roles but the line between aides fundraising and official duties has come into question before, including during a recent investigation by the House Ethics Committee.

The House Democrats out-raised their Republican counterparts in the first quarter by bringing in $19.6 million compared to the NRCC’s $18 million, the DCCC reported today.

The final push for campaign checks is in full swing, with Mar. 31 marking the end of the first quarter. That’s when campaigns have to close their books and, within 15 days, report the contributions they received to the Federal Election Commission.

Based on the invitations we have received so far, there are at least 500 fundraisers planned this month, the busiest month for such events since September 2010, which was just before the mid-term elections.

The above graph shows the number of fundraisers each month over the past year. Notice that the totals tend to spike at the end of quarters.

The next graph focuses on this month, when fundraising consultants are prodding PAC representatives and donors to send in checks before March expires. There are more than 100 fundraisers scheduled in the last three days of the month. Last week there were nearly 200 such events planned but because Congress is on recess this week, there are only a few—mostly outside the capital—scheduled for this week.

This week’s out-of-town moneymakers include Rep. Collin Peterson’s, D-Minn., three-day central Florida turkey hunt for his leadership PAC and Mike Ross’s, D-Ark. trip to an Arkansas racetrack and casino, both scheduled for this weekend. On the West Coast, Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Calif., planned an eponymously named golf tournament yesterday, according to the invitation.

Next week, Reps. John Barrow, D-Ga., and Tom Price, R-Ga., are each fundraising at Nationals Park on Opening Day. At the upscale Palm Steakhouse, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has planned its second fundraiser this month aimed at labor interests. That comes at a time when state legislatures have passed recent laws to limit public unions’ bargaining rights.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), is headlining a fundraising reception at Johnny’s Half Shell this afternoon for 15 Democrats running for open seats across the country. Also acting as draws are Reps. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, Donna Edwards, D-Md., Patrick Murphy, D-Pa., and Allyson Schwartz, D-Pa..

The reception is part of the committee’s “Red to Blue” program, which offers financial and strategic support to candidates in hot races. Candidates earn a spot in the program by, among other things, “surpassing demanding fundraising goals.” Most of them could use an infusion of DC cash–nine out of the 15 have raised in the neighborhood of 10 percent or less of their campaign money from out-0f-state, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

The one exception is Raj Goyle, who hopes to represent Kansas’ fourth district, and the only one of the candidates listed who is running in a district rated as “solid Republican” by The Cook Report. Goyle has gotten more cash from the Washington, DC area than any other . Goyle recently told a local TV station, “I think a lot of people are angry at Washington right now, and so am I.”  Despite raising $1.3 million, Goyle was four points behind his main Democratic primary opponent, retiree Robert Tillman, in a recent poll. The winner of the Kansas Democratic primary on Aug. 3 will likely face oilman Wink Hartman, who just put $1.24 million of his own cash into his campaign.

The DCCC is asking for PACs to shell out anywhere from $2,500 to be a “PAC friend,” to $10,000, to be a “PAC Host.” Individuals are asked for $250 to $2,500. PACs and individuals are asked to indicate how they want to direct their contributions to the various campaigns, with the DCCC serving as the conduit.

The 15 Red-to-Blue candidates are:

John Carney, Del.

Chad Causey, Ark.

Lori Edwards, Fla.

Joyce Elliott, Ark.

Joe Garcia, Fla.

Raj Goyle, Kan.

Denny Heck, Wash.

Roy Herron, Tenn.

Julie Lassa, Wis.

Bryan Lentz, Pa.

Gary McDowell, Mich.

Stephene Moore, Kan.

Mike Oliverio. W.Va.

Dan Seals, Ill.
Trent Van Haaften, Ind.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) leaders continue to busy themselves fundraising for party candidates in tight races, with events planned in the next few weeks for Reps. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) and John Salazar (D-Colo.).

Recruitment Chair Rep. Steve Israel (D, NY-2),  Chairman Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D, MD-8) , and vice chairs Rep. Joseph Crowley (D, NY-7) and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D, FL-20) are headlining this  reception, on July 27, for Bishop. The fourth-term Congressman is considered vulnerable in Republican circles and will face the winner of a hotly contested GOP primary come November.

On July 28, Van Hollen and Israel are joining Vice Chair Rep. Xavier Becerra (D, CA-31) for a breakfast benefiting Salazar at the Twenty-First Century townhouse. (The townhouse is owned by former GOP Texas Congressman  Jack Fields, Twenty First Century lobbying group CEO. His bio says he “has built and maintained a wide network of personal friendships and  professional relationships among government officials of both parties.” ) Salazar is in a district that has historically voted Republican and also will be facing the winner of a GOP face off .

The DCCC blog recently reported the committee had “blow[n] past our $1.5 million June 30th deadline goal.”  In the case of the events above, checks are to be made out to the candidate but also counted as “conduit” contributions over at the DCCC (which is required to report them as both receipts and disbursements to the candidate in question), enabling the party committee to claim credit for the amounts raised. We last wrote about DCCC fundraising here .


An annual fundraiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee next week will open lobbyists up to 50 senior House staffers including top aides to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, according to a Roll Call report today.

To attend, lobbyists must pay $1,000 and political action committees $2,500 to attend a dinner at the district’s Hotel Monaco.

In additional to senior aides for lawmakers, lobbyists can also chill with senior committee aides including the House ways and Means, Budget and Appropriations Committees. In past years, this event has raised almost $250,000 for the DCCC.

With the May 18 special election right around the corner, the race to snag former Democratic Rep. John Murtha’s seat representing Pennsylvania’s 12th district is heating up.

Both candidates, Republican Tim Burns and Democrat Mark Critz, a former aide to Murtha, held practical mirror-image fundraisers on the same day last week.

Burns held a reception at the Capitol Hill Club and was joined by Republican Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, Republican Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va., the National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions, and the Pennsylvania Republican Delegation.

Around the same time, Critz held a reception at Lounge 201, a bar the Washington Post calls “A Sinatra-style Capitol Hill martini lounge for those tired of the $2 Budweiser scene.” In attendance were Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen, and the Pennsylvania Democratic Delegation.

A recent poll by Public Policy Polling shows that Burns holds a small lead over Critz. Murtha was the first Democrat since 1942 to represent Pennsylvania’s 12th district, a position he held for more than 35 years. The Cook Political Report describes the race as a “toss up.”

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Burns also leads in fundraising. He has raised nearly $550,000, while Critz has raised less than $400,000. But Critz may have an ace in the hole: the Washington Post reports that Murtha’s earmarks for area defense contractors might continue paying dividends to Critz, the aide that used to request them. “Defense contractors, local business officers and lobbyists that relied on earmarked federal contracts from Murtha…recently chipped in $142,400,” the Post found.

Murtha was a central figure in the PMA Group scandal; the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct cleared him of wrongdoing. When he worked for Murtha, who served as chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Critz compiled the list of earmarks that Murtha would fund. According to the Post, Murtha “routinely approved the list his staff gave him without making any changes.”

• The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) celebrates the new year with a “business council” kickoff breakfast featuring Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.),  Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Rep. Albio Sires (D-N.J.), Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa), Rep. Ron Klein (D-Fla.), Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.), and Rep. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). Of these, The Cook Report rates Braley, Klein, Cardoza, and Murphy as being in races that could turn competitive.
• Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-S.C.) will be hosting a fundraiser this weekend for his leadership PAC, the Republican Majority Fund, at The Breakers, a resort featuring golf, a spa, and of course, the beach, in Palm Beach, Florida. Chambliss was the focus earlier this year of an investigative report by Propublica, which showed how he has used the PAC to fund his golf habit. The PAC already spent $48,283 at The Breakers early last year on “golf/catering,” and “prizes,” according to expenditure reports filed with the U.S. Federal Election Commission (FEC). Click here to see a list of the parties we have on file benefitting Chambliss and Republican Majority Fund.

For reporters watching hot races: on Dec. 2, soon after Thanksgiving break, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is hosting a “winter reception” at its headquarters; the ask is $15,000 for a host, $10,000 for a “PAC Patron, and $5,000 for a “PAC friend.” (This follows its fall gala back in September and its summer solstice celebration in June–apparently the party committee is quite in tune with the changing seasons.)

The following week, on Dec. 8, the DCCC will host an update and race review–no charge or specific lawmakers listed for that one. But a clue comes from an earlier reception for “DCCC frontliners” on September 10, which features numerous lawmakers deemed vulnerable by the Cook Political Report.

So far the DCCC is winning the money chase against its Republican counterpart, the National Republican Congressional Committee, raising $44.4 million to the NRCC’s $27.2 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Delaware’s Former Lt. Governor John Carney (D-DE) is running  uncontested for the state’s lone House seat–and he is doing it with the political weight of the DCCC, a handful of lawmakers, and at least half a dozen well connected lobbyists behind him (see this invitation to a November 4 luncheon).

According to data from the Center for Responsive Politics, Carney had raised $427,000 by the end of the third quarter of this year. His only registered opponent in the primary so far, Scott Spencer, has reported nothing whatsoever, and no Republican opponent has announced yet.

The incumbent, Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE) announced last month that he would be running to fill the Senate seat vacated by Vice President Joe Biden, effectively clearing the way for Carney.

Carney announced his candidacy on tax day earlier this year and shortly thereafter received the endorsement of Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), the state’s senior Senator:

“He is the strongest Democratic congressional candidate that our state has seen in many years,” Carper said. “The breadth of his experience and knowledge of this state and many of the issues we face now make him more than qualified to be a United States congressman.”

Carper speaks from experience–Carney worked as his secretary of finance and as deputy chief of staff when Carper was Governor. In addition to his public endorsement, Carper may or may not be calling in a favor or two. Jonathon Jones,  his former chief of staff from 2001-2007, and now a lobbyist, is billed as one of the hosts on the November 4 luncheon invitation.

Jones isn’t the only former chief of staff turned lobbyist on the invitation though–John Michael Gonzalez, chief of staff to Rep. Melissa Bean (D-IL) from 2005-2009, is also listed as an event host (note that Bean is also mentioned on the invitation).

Other event hosts include lobbyist Sean Richardson, chief of staff to Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) from 2002-2006 and to Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in 2007; lobbyist Jeffrey Peck, former staff director of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1987-1992, lobbyist Tanya Lombard who worked as a Special Assistant to President Clinton, and finally Gwen Mellor who lobbies for Hogan & Hartson.

Carney’s inside support is already showing in his campaign receipts. His third top source of cash is leadership PACs.

To see clients for lobbyists hosting the event click on individuals’ names: Jeffrey Peck, Jonathon Jones, John Michael Gonzalez, Tanya Lombard, Sean Richardson, Gwen Mellor

Congressional Democrats are finding a way around President Barack Obama’s ban on lobbyist contributions, reports Jonathan Martin in Politico today.

Obama is speaking at a dinner tonight at the Mandarin Hotel for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). In the past this dinner has brought in big lobbyist bucks. But because Obama will be there, the committees won’t be taking lobbyist contributions for the event.

However, lobbyist money will be welcome the next morning at a $5,000-per-head “issues” conference featuring House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), and a variety of committee chairmen. (We don’t have copies of these invitations in our database. If you have them, please send them to us here.)

Reports Politico:

Obama refuses to appear at fundraising events where lobbyists are allowed to contribute money, so the Democrats can’t collect lobbyists’ cash at Thursday night’s dinner. But since the president won’t be at the morning-after event, congressional Democrats will be free to collect the lobbying dollars then that they couldn’t take the night before.

This seems the very definition of violating the spirit of the lobbyist contribution ban–and the piece quotes some anonymous Democratic sources saying it’s Obama’s fault for not reining the Dems in.

Yet at the same time, more anonymous Democratic insiders are quoted griping because the White House won’t help raise lobbyist cash. One says Obama should be leaning on surrogate organizations to send out fundraising alerts. Another points out that the lobbyist money ban puts the committees in a bind:

“It’s kind of like going to Los Angeles and then excluding the entertainment industry,” said a senior Democrat. “Well, then you’re going to have a lame event.”

Seems like Obama’s getting the worst of both worlds right now. He’s getting the blame both because his lobbyist money ban is too weak–and because he won’t pull out the stops to get lobbyist money.