The Symbiosis Continues

Mike Lillis — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:33:09 +0000

President Obama has taken a good deal of heat from the business community and other special interest groups for his strict ban on lobbyists attending fundraisers where the president himself will appear. But it seems that some congressional lawmakers are none too happy with the restrictions either. Politico reports today that, despite the lobbyist ban at a Thursday night congressional fundraiser featuring Obama, Democrats staging a similar fundraiser Friday morning are reaching out to make lobbyists feel welcome.

President Barack Obama’s strict ban on lobbyist contributions will limit the haul from Thursday night’s fundraising dinner for congressional Democrats, but organizers have found a way around it: a morning-after event at the same hotel where lobbyists — and their money — will be welcomed with open arms.

Invitations for the $5,000-per-person Issues Conference don’t say it’s an effort to skirt Obama’s lobbying ban, but they walk right up to the edge.

“Please note that the Friday Issues Conference is NOT subject to lobbyist restrictions, though the event is intended for personal contributions only,” a finance official from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee wrote in an e-mail sent to lobbyists Tuesday and obtained by POLITICO, bolding the entire sentence to underscore the clarification. “The Issues Conference is separate from the DSCC/DCCC events with President Obama.”

After all, what’s the fun in keeping money’s influence out of Washington altogether?

The Washington Independent » symbiosis

The Symbiosis Continues