Today is March 19th
Documenting the Political Partying Circuit
From the early hours of the morning until late in the evening, politicians are partying. Sunlight's PARTY TIME can help you find out who is partying, where and when.

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Partytime • POSTED - 05.27.09 BY nancy

Ready for some golf?

At least two lawmakers are hosting golfing events in their home states over the next week.

Rep. Ron Kind, a Democrat from Wisconsin, is hosting a weekend benefiting his leadrership PAC, Badger PAC, at the Whistling Straits Golf Club and the “reknowned Kohler Waters Spa.” The spa “is conveniently located so you can drop in for a nourishing treatment, or step into a robe and experience all-day immersion,” according to the spa’s website. Cost for an individual is $2,500; for a PAC, $5,000.

Rep. Mike Conaway, Republican of Texas, meanwhile, is playing golf next Monday at the Ram Rock Golf Course in Horseshoe Bay. (You can see close ups of all the holes on the course right here.) While the invitation we have here at Party Time is a “save the date” notice, Leslie Sorrell, who works at the fundraising firm Magnolia Group, confirmed via voice mail not only that the event is on, but that there was also a pre-golf dinner at a nearby restaurant.

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Partytime • POSTED - 09.29.08 BY nancy

Freddie Mac, Citi sponsored reception last week

Last Tuesday, in the midst of bailout madness on Capitol Hill, Reps. James E. Clyburn and Sen. Saxby Chambliss were listed as the “invited guests” at a reception benefiting The First Tee of Washington, DC sponsored by Citi, Freddie Mac, and other corporate sponsors.

Freddie Mac has already gotten a government bailout in the housing bill passed last summer. Citi just announced an agreement to purchase the troubled Wachovia Corp.

The First Tee is a nonprofit organization dedicated to exposing young people to golf, “primarily to serve those who have not had exposure to the game and its positive values.”

Considering how many congressional fundraising parties in D.C. involve golf, one wonders if the organization is preparing young folks in town for a career in lobbying.

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Democratic convention • POSTED - 08.24.08 BY nancy

Game of golf, anyone?

In the “why not play some golf with lobbyists while we’re all here,” department, Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA) played golf today with supporters at Colorado’s Buffalo Run Golf Course.

One of the hosts was Lyndon Boozer, a lobbyist for AT&T. Boozer and Baca are avid golf players. Golf Digest included them both in its 2008 list of the top 200 “senators, representatives, appointed officials, lobbyists and other power brokers [representing] a Washington golf scene still vibrant despite post-Abramoff limits on golf as entertainment.” (Baca likes to play golf while fundraising, thus this April fundraiser at a Miami golf resort.)

In 2006, Baca was one of 26 House Democrats who sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission “praising AT&T for its commitment” to win approval for the AT&T – Bellsouth merger, according to Technology Daily.

The group was scheduled to move on to a reception at the Oceanaire Seafood Room in downtown Denver from 5 to 7:30 p.m., ending just in time for folks to scoot over to the Blue Dog reception – Baca is a blue dog –at 8:00 pm sponsored in part by—AT&T.

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PARTYFINDER™ 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.