Posted on 03/17/2011 6:59:30 AM PDT by IbJensen
Despite the looming possibility of a government shutdown, federal layoffs and furloughs, there’s at least one thing members of Congress from both political parties can readily agree on these days: partying.
Morning, noon and night, more than 150 fundraising parties are scheduled all over Washington this week for Democratic and Republican politicians in bars, restaurants and private town houses and at sporting events — even to watch the woeful Washington Wizards play. Other lawmakers are gearing up for March Madness, the upcoming NCAA basketball tournament, with luxury suites for fundraising at the Verizon Center.
The flurry of fundraising comes as the end of the first quarter for reporting election contributions comes up. Also, Congress will be adjourning next week, so politicians might be scurrying to raise money in Washington while they still can.
“It’s an every-three-months tradition where we tend to see an uptick,” said Nancy Watzman of the nonpartisan Sunlight Foundation, which tracks fundraising parties by members of Congress. “With the March 31 deadline approaching, there are a lot of parties with people looking to pump up their numbers.”
Fifty-seven fundraising parties were scheduled for Wednesday alone, according to Sunlight, which points out that the group still doesn’t know about all of the events going on across town. Last week was busy, too.
Sen. James M. Inhofe
Democratic Rep. Bruce L. Braley of Iowa appeared at a fundraiser for the Populist PAC, which was held in a $1.8 million Capitol Hill home where donors got to mingle with politicians like Rep. John Garamendi, California Democrat. Mr. Braley’s office declined to comment Wednesday.
There usually are up to a half dozen fundraisers happening at once across the city over breakfast, lunch, dinner or after-hours get-togethers. On Wednesday night, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was scheduled to host a big fundraiser...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
They've been moaning and groaning , one side for and the other against a Shut-Down for months now , and we know the whole gang of them doesn't have the backbone of a Newt. So, let them shut it down forever, if it be!
Americans don't need more pictures to ruin their breakfast as the evil regime, alwways operating in darkness and behind the scenes is doing an admirable job that would please satan himself!
Too bad he’s not raising money for the Japanese tsunmai victims.................
Maybe the answer is to limit congress to only a certain number of days per year like many state legislatures, and definitely reduce the pay.
Stop the corruption.
President Obama to headline $30,800-a-head DNC bash in Harlem;
Imagine that - I wouldn’t sit for a dinner with that guy if they paid me $30,800.00
Agree but spending breeds corruption and and we know how the congress loves to spend.
It goes deeper than that.
Thousands of little Neros, continuing to fiddle while Rome burns...
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