Free as a Bird – Just in time for Thanksgiving, several lawmakers will be out hunting this week. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., got an early start shooting fowl this morning at a farm in King George, Va. for his leadership PAC. From Thursday through Sunday, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, with special guests Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and Richard Burr, R-N.C., is putting on a cabin retreat weekend in Georgia chock full of rugged activities: that includes “one-on-one” boar and deer hunting, quail hunting, sporting clays, “unlimited” golf, access to a fishing boat, and tennis—all in exchange for a $5,000 contribution plus hunting and lodging fees. Not to be outdone, Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., is putting on a quail hunt weekend of his own, also in Georgia, this weekend.

More target practice – Rep. Bill Owens, D-N.Y., will be at the National Rifle Association’s Capitol Hill offices tonight for a “latest in laser shooting technology” fundraiser.

Libations for Larson –The Capitol Hill townhouse of U.K.-based beverage Giant Diageo is the site of a “Tequila and Oyster Tasting” tomorrow night for John Larson, D-Conn., the chair of the House Democratic Caucus. The event may be a reminder that Diageo, the maker of Captain Morgan rum and Johnnie Walker whiskey, also distributes Jose Cuervo tequila (and has been in talks this year to purchase the brand). This attractive event commands donations between $1,000 and $5,000.

Birthday Bashes – Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., will be busy with two birthday celebration fundraisers this week. The first is a birthday reception tomorrow at the lobby shop Twenty First Century Group. The second will be at Park 52 Restaurant in Chicago this Saturday.  That party will cost $5,000 to chair and $2,500 to co-host, but individuals can get in for as little as $150.

Tomorrow night, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and a host of other GOP senators will be throwing Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., a “Joe’s Stone Crab Reception” birthday party at an office suite near the Capitol. The cost to attend is $1,000 for PACs and $500 for individuals.

The Big 4-0! Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., has landed about two dozen colleagues (including Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.) to entice supporters to celebrate his landmark birthday at the American Trucking Associations‘ digs Wednesday evening, according to the invitation. It’s free for the lawmakers but not for everyone else—PACs are paying $1,000 or $2,500 and individuals are paying $140 or $240 (a relatively low ask for these kinds of events).

Jersey Boys with Jersey Senator – Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., will be using the musical Jersey Boys, playing at the National Theatre, to fundraise tomorrow evening. After the performance, he has invited donors to a private reception at the Helen Hayes Lounge. Tickets cost $2,500.

Cyber lunch – Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., is putting on a lunch fundraiser tomorrow targeted at “High Tech, Cyber and Homeland Security” industry donors at Art & Soul. The contribution levels are $2,500 for co-hosts, $1,000 for PACs and $250 for individuals.

For a comprehensive list of this week’s fundraisers, check out our upcoming events page.

Since the cancellation of the first two weeks of the NBA season—then another two weeks—many have expressed their anger and disappointment at the league. If a deal is not reached by tomorrow, the deadline imposed by the NBA for the players’ union to accept its offer, much of the season may be lost.

There is one group of fans who may have cause for frustration beyond not seeing their favorite teams play. That would be members of Congress, who use NBA games as a opportunity to fundraise for their campaigns.

NBA Commissioner David Stern

Going back to 2008, there have been at least 45 fundraisers at NBA games, all but four of which were held at the Verizon Center, home to the Washington Wizards, according to an analysis of Party Time records. Right now, perhaps because of the lockout, there are no upcoming NBA fundraisers on the schedule. Rep. Albio Sires, D-N.J., hosted the most recent one: a Boston Celtics versus Wizards game in April. (Since Party Time invitations come from lobbyist sources, as opposed to official reports, there could be events scheduled that are not in the database.)

Members of Congress sometimes hold these swanky events back in their home states. Rep. Donald Payne, D-N.J., held one at the Prudential Center, home to the New Jersey Nets, in April. Just in case donors weren’t sure, the invitation clarified that “Food & Beverages will be served in Luxury Box.” Rep. Ed Pastor, D-Ariz., included a Phoenix Suns game in his “All Sports Weekend” fundraiser back in March.

Fundraising at NBA games, as with other sporting events, is a very good way for lawmakers to bring in thousands of dollars per supporter. The ticket prices on invitations ranged from $500 for an individual ticket to $5,000 for a PAC to be named a ‘host.’ In federal reports, there is no way to track how much a particular politician rakes in at a specific game–contributions reported later to the Federal Election Commission do not indicate where the money was raised.

What can politicians do if a deal is not reached? There’s always college hoops. Plenty of fundraisers—at least 26—have been centered around the NCAA Tournament, known as March Madness, in March and early April, according to an analysis of Party Time files. These events include both watch parties held at bars and luxury suites at the games. Eleven such events were held earlier this year alone, when part of the tournament was played at the Verizon Center. Another nine congressional fundraisers have been scheduled at Georgetown Hoyas games, also played at the Verizon Center, over the years. Former Rep. Dan Maffei, D-N.Y., whose old upstate New York district encompasses fierce Georgetown rival Syracuse University, scheduled fundraisers in 2009 and 2010 when the Orange came to the District.

Hockey is also an option. So far this season, three congressmen (Sander Levin, D-Mich., Sires, and Mike Quigley, D-Ill.) have booked fundraisers to watch the Washington Capitals play. The invitation to Quigley’s event, scheduled for Nov. 29, features a photo of the congressman hoisting the Stanley Cup when his favorite team, the Chicago Blackhawks, won in 2010. This will be the fourth consecutive season that the congressman is hosting a hockey moneymaker at the Verizon Center.

It is also still NFL season and lawmakers have planned at least three fundraisers at football games this year. Rep. John Larson, D-Conn. will be having a leadership PAC fundraiser at FedEx Field on Dec. 11 when the Washington Redskins take on the New England Patriots. On August 25, Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md., hosted one at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore for a preseason matchup between the Ravens and Redskins. On Oct. 9, Tom Rooney, D-Fla. had a fundraiser at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh featuring the Steelers and Tennessee Titans. Politicians have even held tailgating fundraisers.

In the spring and summer, baseball has also been a popular option for legislators’ fundraisers. Two such events stand out. In 2009, the Leadership PAC for Allyson Schwartz, D-Pa,. hosted an exclusive event at the Philadelphia Phillies’ spring training complex, including a brunch with players and broadcasters and a private tour with the team owner (tickets could be had for $2,500 or $5,000). In 2008, James McGovern, D-Mass., offered a tour of Fenway Park to go along with a Boston Red Sox game. Tickets went for $5,000 and $2500 for PACs and $2,300 for individuals.

Finally, there’s always tennis, at least for one lawmaker. Congressman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, has used the US Open in Queens, N.Y. to hold events each of the past two summers, attempting to raise $2,500-per-head for his leadership PAC.

If the NBA season ends up being canceled altogether, members of Congress will be sure to find other sporting events—or other attractive forms of entertainment—to raise money.

At least five congressmen do not need to fill out a bracket in an office pool to make money off the N.C.A.A. tournament.

A spot in a luxury suite to watch the first two rounds of the N.C.A.A. men’s basketball tournament in the nation’s capital can cost as much as $1,000, and lawmakers’ re-election campaigns are not letting such a hot ticket go to waste.

The lawmakers are using the suites to hold fundraisers at the Verizon Center on Thursday and Saturday, where part of the tournament is taking place. Although the members’ staff have not yet returned phone calls asking how the tickets were purchased, buying a suite for all three sessions would cost either $18,000 or $20,000, according to the Verizon Center ticket office. The more expensive suites fit 24 spectators while the others allow for 18.

According to the two invites collected by Party Time, Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md., appears to be setting up shop for all three game sessions (there are two sessions on Thursday) and is charging PACs $1,000 to attend each.

Two other congressmen will likely be rooting for their home state schools, with the University of Connecticut Huskies and University of Missouri Tigers both playing games in Washington, D.C. House Democratic Caucus chairman John Larson, D-Conn., is charging $5,000 per ticket for Saturday’s matchup while Russ Carnahan, D-Mo., is asking for $2,500 for Thursday’s games.

To obtain the suites, Larson and Carnahan’s campaigns may have had to shell out considerably less than Ruppersberger’s. Purchasing the suite for solely Thursday’s night session would cost $7,500, according to the Verizon Center ticket office.

Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, is another congressman using March Madness to stuff his campaign account. Tickets are going for between $1,500 and $5,000 to watch the Thursday afternoon games with him, according to the invitation. On Saturday, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., has asked donors to join him for the games, and the suggested contribution is $2,500.

It is unclear whether the congressmen will be attending the events, as their staff have not yet returned phone calls.

June, always a big month for fundraising as it’s the close of the fiscal quarter, does not disappoint this weekend. Even reluctant fundraisers are getting into the act.

House Democratic Caucus Chair and Ways and Means member John Larson, D-Conn., will host a $5,000-per-PAC event at Mohegan Sun, one of Connecticut’s two major casino resorts, to benefit his political action committee, Synergy PAC.

Larson, a public finance supporter, dislikes the constant fundraising necessary to win campaigns. “It borders on insanity when you think of the time and energy that’s devoted to the money chase instead of serving your constituents, instead of spending time on issues,” he told the Huffington Post.

Perhaps his dislike for raising money is why there’s been themes to most of the fundraisers he’s held this year, based on invites sent to Party Time. For example this year he’s raised money at a Rooftop Bocce Ball Tournament (with a $2,000 entry fee for a 4-person squad), a Jay-Z concert, and a Georgetown Hoyas game.

This weekend’s casino event is billed as “New England’s Summer Golf, Spa & Concert Retreat,” and includes learning to gamble from the pros, tickets to see James Taylor and Carole King, and a legislative update with Rep. Larson, who represents Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District.

Last June, Larson’s PAC doled out $35,000 for the annual event — though it was held at Mohegan Sun’s rival, Foxwoods.

As voters await the Connecticut Senate primary in August, politicians are doing all they can to snag Democratic Senator Chris Dodd’s seat.

Republican candidate Linda McMahon appears to be the financial frontrunner thus far, with more than $14.5 million coming from her own self-financing, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Other Republican candidates, Peter Schiff and Robert Simmons, have raised more than $2 million, mostly from individual contributions from donors.

The race holds a democratic advantage, according to The Cook Political Report.

Richard Blumenthal, a Democratic candidate for Dodd’s seat, held a fundraiser at DC’s Brown Rudnick in March. Though there are doubts that he can win the seat for the Democrats, Blumenthal has the backing from all five of Connecticut’s representatives. His March fundraiser was hosted by Democratic Reps. Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro, Jim Himes, John Larson, and Chris Murphy.

Many lawmakers are taking advantage of the warm spring weather by holding short vacation-style fundraisers outside the beltway.

Senator Jim DeMint, R-S.C., has invited constituents to a trip to South Carolina from April 9 to 10, for a fundraiser aptly named the “Spring Escape to South Carolina.” DeMint is asking for the donation of $3,000 per PAC and $1,500 per Individual.

At the same time, Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. John Larson will travel far from his home state of Connecticut to host a Napa Valley Wine Tasting Weekend to benefit his leadership PAC, Synergy PAC. The weekend includes a bocce tournament, vineyard tour, wine tasting, dinner and breakfast with Larson. His invitation calls for $5,000 donations per PAC.

Not to be outdone, Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, will hold her 8^th annual Fiesta Fundraiser in Fort Worth from April 11 to April 13. Attendees can choose one of three packages that include golf and breakfast, lunch and dinner.  She requests $3,000 per PAC and $2,000 per individual as the maximum donation.

Money ain’t a thang for Jay-Z and it won’t be for several lawmakers who are hoping to cash in on the rapper’s upcoming concert at the Verizon Center.

Rep. Andre Carson (D, IN-7), Rep. John Larson (D, CT-1), Rep. Sanford Bishop (D, GA-2), Rep. Ed Towns (D, NY-10), and Rep. Yvette Clarke (D, NY-11), will all host fundraisers at the Jay-Z concert on March 3. Of the five, only Clarke and Towns draw logical connections to the rapper, who is described as a “fellow Brooklyn native” in Clarke’s invitation and “Brooklyn’s own” in Towns’ invitation.

With half a dozen golfing fundraisers this weekend from Virginia to Montana, lawmakers must be hoping for good weather.

Reps. Ed Royce (R-CA), Glenn Nye (D-VA), and Tom Rooney (R-FL) will be hosting events involving golf in the Commonwealth of Virginia and they are asking for contributions ranging from $1,000 per individual to $5,000 per team of four. Nye’s event features “special guest” NFL hall of famer Bruce Smith. Senator Baucus (D-MT) is hosting his 10th Annual Fly Fishing & Golf event in his home state this weekend. He’s asking for contributions of $5,000.

Rep. John Larson (D-CT) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) will be splitting their time this weekend at the MGM Grand’s spa in Foxwoods and the Lake of Isles Golf Course to benefit Larson’s Synergy PAC. Donors can join them in North Stonington, Connecticut for contributions of $5,000.

Finally, Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) is offering PACs and individuals the opportunity to attend the US Open with him at Bethpage Black for $5,000 each.

Six golfing events in one weekend may seem like a lot—but if summers past are any indication of things to come, our legislators are just getting started.

When the Boston Red Sox come to Washington on June 23rd for a friendly interleague series with the Nationals, a half dozen members hailing from the Northeast will be trying to cash in with fundraisers. And another four lawmakers hailing from states as far away as Florida and California are also taking their donors out to the ball game. (Click here to see list.)

Red Sox fans are sure to show up in droves to watch Kevin Youkilis knock one out of Nationals Park, and Reps. John Larson (D-CT), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Jim Langevin (D-RI), and John Tierney (D-MA), all are all getting in on the game.

Larson is offering a grand slam for his donors. His idea is simple; a $5,000 check made out to “Larson for Congress” will not only pick up donors two tickets to game two, it will land them in the President’s Club for a batting practice viewing.

Reps. Steven Kagen (D-WI), Wally Herger (R-CA), Cliff Stearns (R-FL), and Adam Schiff (D-CA) are also eager to head to the park. Kagen has raised cash at baseball games before (see this invitation from May 2008); now he’s asking for $5,000 to net a buyer four tickets to game three of the upcoming series. Herger’s fundraiser will be his second at Nationals Park for the month of June. Schiff refers to his festivities as an evening “of hot dogs and homeruns” during the three game series. Stearns is raising cash for his leadership PAC, known as “The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism Fund.”

Legislators who missed out on tickets needn’t worry. They can follow Rep. John Tierney’s (MA-6) example and host pre-game celebrations well in advance of the actual series; he still asks for $5,000 for a “host,” and $2,500 from PACs.

Rep. John Larson, Democrat from Connecticut, had a busy day today. In his datebook was this “insurance industry” fundraising breakfast. And he was also one of four lawmakers to introduce this bill, the 2009 Fair Elections Now Act, which would bring public financing to federal elections.

Supporters argue that if this bill passes, it would make the need for breakfasts like this one mostly moot. Lawmakers who participate would qualify for public funds to run their races if they first raised a set amount of small contributions from their community and agreed to take no large contributions from wealthy interests. Such candidates would get a four to one match on the small donations they raise up to a limit.

Trolling through the Party Time database, we quickly see that all four sponsors of this legislation have a lot of fundraising parties on their calendars. Here are Larson’s. Sen. Arlen Specter got special mention from us the other day for having a dozen fundraising parties scheduled for March alone. Sen. Dick Durbin has these parties for himself, but as a congressional leader also appears at many fundraisers for other lawmakers. And here are some parties for Rep. Walter Jones.

So the question before us is–are these lawmakers tired of all this partying?