Last night the Huffington Post’s Arthur Delaney attempted to get into the “health care roundtable” fundraiser thrown by the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) that we blogged about yesterday.The fundraiser was slated to feature three key senators–Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mike Enzi (R-WY), and Richard Burr (R-NC).

Grassley and Enzi represent one-third of the half dozen senators who are now trying to hammer out a compromise on health care reform in a Senate Finance Committee conference room. All three are members of key health care committees, and have big health care donors.

Delaney wasn’t allowed in to the festivities:

An NRSC staffer said the event was closed to reporters. Asked if we could gain entrance for $2,000, the staffer reiterated that the event was closed.

However, he did get to talk to some of the attendees:

Some guests who walked by were kind enough to speak on the record, including Ed Lenz of the American Staffing Association. Lenz said he was hoping to get a sense from the senators of what was happening with the bill.

“It’s part of our system. It’s part of free speech,” he said. “There are people from all walks of life and all strata of society who have opportunities to have their voices heard.”

Of course in this case, being heard cost each attendee at least $2,000.

The Huffington Post’s Arthur Delaney attempted to attend a fundraising luncheon for Blue Dog Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) without success. (You can see the invite for the event here):

Alas, the congressman and whoever else showed up to the 10th floor meeting managed to escape without being greeted by the Huffington Post. (The building had multiple elevators and exits, and this reporter has been told that he is no James Bond.) Ross’ office did not respond to requests for details about the guest list.

Federal law does not require politicians to disclose who attends their fundraisers. The nonpartisan Sunlight Foundation posts invitations for upcoming events on its website, www.politicalpartytime.org, as it acquires them through Hill sources. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, health professionals are the top donors to Ross’ campaign and political action committee for the 2010 election cycle.

On Monday evening Ross declined to tell the Huffington Post what the Blue Dogs wanted from closed-door negotiations with Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), who later announced that Tuesday’s markup would be canceled.

If they hailed from the health care industry, it’s no surprise Ross wouldn’t want to share info on his lunch guests, either. Fundraising is a touchy topic as the industry dumps money into politicians’ campaign coffers in hopes of heading off revenue-killing reforms.

Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA) skipped his ice cream fundraiser yesterday in favor of working on the health care reform bill, reports the Huffington Post’s Arthur Delaney:

The Huffington Post visited the event as part of its effort to cover totally normal, plain-vanilla lobbying around the Hill. Of the nine fundraisers known to be happening Thursday, this was the only one that held the possibility of vanilla ice cream. It was a really hot day.

This reporter was politely denied access to the event. Arriving guests, including a lobbyist for the Independent Community Bankers Association, and another from the United Auto Workers, refused to bring any ice cream outside.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the top donors to Becerra’s 2010 campaign committee are in the health care and insurance industries. Becerra is a member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health.

Intrepid Huffington Post reporter Arthur Delaney has been kicked out of yet another fundraiser–this time one benefiting Rep. Joe Crowley’s (D-NY) leadership PAC. Crowley was set to sing at the soiree located at the lobbying headquarters of the Recording Industry Association of America.

Before he was shown the door–after he was “outed” by attendees bearing blackberries who looked up Delaney’s experience earlier this week attempting to attend a fundraiser for Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA)–Delaney had a chat with several lobbyists:

Several lobbyists introduced themselves, including Lou Constantino of the Managed Funds Association, a hedge funds lobby that has spent $750,000 in lobbying so far this year as part of the industry’s efforts to avert regulation. Patrick Collins said he was there just because he likes Crowley. Law firm Holland & Knight sent at least one intern.

Crowley is known for his rock starish aspirations. You can check him out here on Youtube doing Pink Cadillac:

Today Arthur Delaney of the Huffington Post reports on how he tried–and failed–to attend a fundraiser for Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) at the Online Lenders Association townhouse last night on Capitol Hill:

This reporter arrived at the same time as John Greene of the National Association of Health Underwriters, which has a lobbying income of $250,000 so far in 2009, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. (Isakson is a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.)

Two young women from Polaris Government Relations, a lobbying firm, greeted us at the door and invited us both inside. After introductions, the Huffington Post was disinvited.

“I’d appreciate it if you’d go ahead and leave,” said one of the ladies.

John Greene accompanied the Huffington Post from the doorstep to the sidewalk. He declined to say how much he paid to attend the dinner. Guests typically drop $500 or $1,000 into a politician’s campaign coffers for the privilege of attending these types of events.

Greene said he was thinking about moving his car, but then he went back inside. Another man appeared from the basement door and admonished the Huffington Post to stay on the other side of the fence.

“Street, sidewalk. Private event,” said a man. “Private property.”

Hosts listed for the event included Polaris lobbyists Dan Gans and Bryan Cunningham, with a mix of telecommunications and other clients, and Ward White, who lobbies for AT&T on behalf of WHW Consulting.