Congressional Staffers to Hold Pay-for-Access Fundraiser on Tuesday

Lachlan Markay / July 18, 2011

From a March 16, 2006, DCCC press release:

Today, it became clear that Republicans will never support meaningful lobbying reform because playing by the rules simply does not compute. Jessica Simpson’s rejection of an invitation to an NRCC fundraiser because she thought it was wrong to lobby for her Operation Smile at a political fundraiser crystallizes their central resistance to reform. Republicans were befuddled at the fact that someone would not want to pay for access in order to lobby the president for their organization or interests…

“It would be easy to make a joke about Jessica Simpson’s rejection of the GOP’s invitation to lobby the president but actually it’s a disturbing look at the pay-for-access culture Republicans have nurtured,” said Bill Burton, communications director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “When it came down to the Republican House leadership, the president and Jessica Simpson, it was Simpson who took the ethical high ground. Not surprising from the same GOP crowd dragging their feet on meaningful lobbying and ethics reform.”

From the July 18, 2011, Politico Influence:

STAFF NIGHT: Having a hard time getting a meeting with House Democratic staff? Pony up $500 for individuals or $2,500 for PACs and you can have some one-on-one time as part of the DCCC fundraising event next Tuesday evening at Fogo de Chao.

THE GUEST LIST: Several of House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer’s staff will be on hand, including deputy chief of staff Stacey Bernards, Director of Member Services and Outreach Chris DeBosier and Whip Director and Senior Adviser Brian Romick. Jason Cole, chief of staff to Rep. Jim Himes; Miles Lackey, minority staff director on the House Rules Committee; David Pomerantz, minority staff director for the Appropriations Committee; and Kate Winkler, chief of staff to Rep. Joseph Crowley, are all headlining the fundraiser. Cole, for one, is no stranger to K Street. Before joining Himes staff he was a lobbyist at UBS Americas.