The presence of five chiefs of staff to House Democratic leaders is a main attraction for an “after party” fundraiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee tomorrow night, according to an invitation obtained by Party Time.

Headlining the event are the chiefs of staff to Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., Jim Himes, D-Conn., Richard Neal, D-Mass., John Carney, D-Del., and Steve Israel, D-N.Y., all leaders of the DCCC.

The participation of top aides in fundraisers has raised questions about the boundary between members’ campaigns and official staff, in light of the House Committee on Ethics decision in January to clear Crowley and two other lawmakers of any ethical violation around financial reform legislation. Crowley’s chief of staff, Kate Winkler — who is listed as a host tomorrow — was featured repeatedly in the report, sometimes receiving emails from lobbyists responding to fundraiser invitations.

Neither Winkler nor three of the other chiefs of staff — Jason Cole, Elizabeth Hart and Jack Pratt — were immediately available for comment. Ann Jablon, the top aide to Neal, wrote in an email that she would not attend because she will be busy taking care of her four children.

One lobbyist, who did not want his name published, said he was not bothered that the chiefs of staff are the main draw to the event.

“You don’t see them often on flyers, but they are such a central presence in fundraising phone calls and emails that it does not surprise or even bother me much. In many cases the [chief of staff] is at least as important a connect as the member herself or himself,” he wrote in an email.

He also wrote that the event, which asks donors for a mere $100 and features “The Peach Pit DJ Dance Party” at a Capitol Hill bar, is attempting to “inculcate [young Democrats] into the giving routine with the $100 price tag.”

“With staff instead of Member names on the invitation, it sounds more like a party that a rich kid would throw at home when his parents are in the Bahamas,” he wrote.

The after party follows a high roller “Spring PAC Reception” at Union Station, where, for $15,000, PACs can send four representatives to the event. Headlining the invitation are Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., and four of the top aides’ bosses, except for Israel. The after party RSVP form on the DCCC website asks donors to “please join the DCCC and House Democratic Staff for an after party event at Lounge 201.”

A press spokesman for the DCCC did not respond to a phone message.

In the January Ethics Committee report, the lawmakers were cleared in part because “none of the Members’ legislative staff had any role in planning any aspect for such events, other than the schedulers or chiefs of staff coordinating administrative scheduling issues regarding the Members’ availability.” [See the full report marked with notes here.]

The event comes at a particularly busy time of year for congressional fundraising. Members have planned at least 156 events this week, and no less than 57 today, according to Party Time’s files, which do not grab all of Washington’s invitations.

“I sense a volume of voice mails and emails more typical of last September than I would expect to see in spring of an odd-numbered year,” the lobbyist wrote.

He cited two immediate reasons for the uptick. First, campaigns are pressuring donors to send in checks before the end of the month, which marks the end of the first quarter. In addition, Congress is on recess all of next week, which means this week includes some of the final days for inside-the-beltway events. He expects a high volume of events again on the final three days of the month.

He also cited the “uncertainty-driven nervousness” associated with states’ redrawing congressional districts this year. Many states will lose at least one House seat in the next Congress.

“Everybody wants to get as much in the bank before they potentially get themselves redrawn into a district that will give them political fits, or that may pit one incumbent against another,” he wrote.

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 .


You might have read in yesterday’s Politico that the nine democrats have raised $50 million for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, according to internal fundraising numbers obtained by the newspaper. Raising that amount of cash would be daunting to anyone, but for Washington insiders, it’s part of their daily grind.

The Party Time database also reveals that beyond the cash these lawmakers raise for the DCCC, they are also fixtures and draws at fundraisers for other lawmakers. This fact would not show up on DCCC reports.

* Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. – Pelosi has raised $23.5 million for the DCCC, according to Politico. Party Time invites show that she’s served as a draw for at least eight fundraisers this year for other lawmakers and at least two for the DCCC — the latest DCCC event was a March 19th breakfast at Democratic National Headquarters, along with several other Democratic lawmakers. The cost to attend ranged from $5,000-$20,000.

* Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. – The second highest fundraiser according to Politico, Van Hollen is also the chair of the DCCC and has raised $7.1 million for the committee. According to Party Time invites, Van Hollen has been present for at least for nine fundraisers for other lawmakers and one for the DCCC.

* Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y. – Crowley raised an $6.5 million for the DCCC, according to Politico. He’s also incredibly active in fundraising for his colleagues. According to Party Time invites, he’s attended at least 10 fundraisers for colleagues and at least 15 for either the DCCC or the New Democrat Coalition PAC. His most recent headliner was for the Coalition’s fifth annual retreat at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina.

* Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla. – According to Politico, Wasserman Shultz has raised $3.5 million for the DCCC. She’s also been busy raising money for fellow lawmakers, Party Time invites list her at at least 7 fundraisers this year for her colleagues, and she’s attended at least six for the DCCC or her own leadership political action committee, the Democrats Win Seats PAC.

* Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C. – Clyburn has raised $3 million for the DCCC, according to Politico and he’s attended at least 13 fundraisers for colleagues and at least two for the DCCC and held at least two for his own Bridge PAC. Later this week he will host a fundraiser for Baron Hill, his Democratic colleague in Indiana, where guests can attend after paying $1,000-$5,000.

* Rep. Steny Hoyer, D- Md. – Hoyer has added $2.3 million to DCCC coffers, according to Politico. He’s also attended at least 17 fundraisers for his colleagues this year, and at least three for the DCCC and Wasserman Schultz’s Democrats Win Seats PAC.

* Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y. – Israel has collected $1.5 million for the DCCC, according to Politico, it’s possible he raised part of that while attending a January 13th DCCC Business Council Kickoff Reception where guests paid anywhere from $5,000-$15,000.

* Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass. – Frank has raised $1.5 million for the DCCC, according to Politico. He’s also helped fundraise for at least 12 of his colleagues and at least two times for the DCCC, according to Party Time invites. His latest effort was a June 7th lunch fundraiser for Democratic colleague Rep. Ron Klein of Florida.  Guests could attend for anywhere from $500-$2,500.

* Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass. – Barney Frank’s Massachusetts colleague has raised $1.1 million for the DCCC, according to Politico. It’s possible that part of that total was raised that money while serving as the special guest of the DCCC Business Council Breakfast on March 4th. The invitation lists Markey as the headliner and asks for donations ranging from $5,000-$15,000 for the DCCC.

And let’s not forget how the DCCC raises money for itself, such as the Committee’s upcoming June 23rd, “DCCC Summer Solstice Reception” at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers offices in Capital Hill. The event says “friends” can attend for $5,000, while “hosts” can buy 4 tickets for $15,000.

Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., officially announced he is retiring today after serving four decades in Congress.

“I think that my district is ready for somebody new, to make a fresh start,” said Obey, former chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Obey’s sudden announcement shocked Democrats throughout Wisconsin who are left wondering how to keep control of his long-held seat.  Six democrats are poised to vie for the seat, Obey told The Washington Post.

Republican Sean Duffy, Ashland Country District Attorney and former cast member of MTV’s “The Real World,” will also campaign for the position. Duffy has already won the endorsement of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin.

According to Party Time’s invitation database, Obey held a fundraiser on March 11 at the Democratic National Headquarters where hosts contributed $5,000 and supporters could contribute $1,000. Obey also attended fundraisers in March benefiting Rep. Steve Israel, D-NY, and Rep. Stephen Kagen, D-Wis.

Obey had raised more than $1.3 million for his campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Duffy had raised the second largest amount at more than $500,000.

The Cook Political Report calls the Wisconsin 7th Congressional District a Democratic “toss up”.

• 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.

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.