Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Convention Parties Unaltered by Ethics Rules?

Press coverage of the Democratic National Convention spotlights the convention parties in light of the new lobbying and ethics law, and it will likely be the same during the Republican convention. Many are quick to criticize and declare that in regards to the conventions, the new ethics rules were a failed attempt to weaken the connection between lawmakers and lobbyists, and were merely superficial changes.

The House Ethics Committee for example decided that events honoring a group of members such as a particular caucus or state delegation were allowable. The new law also has an exemption for events that benefit a charity. So the proceeds of the Poker Players Alliance tournament will benefit Paralyzed Veterans of America.

According to CQ ($$), groups are on the look out for convention parties that violate the new ethics rules. "Lobbyists beware: Watchdog groups are making the rounds to monitor convention-goers' compliance with new ethics rules and call attention to events where corporate sponsors wine and dine members of Congress and their aides."

The Sunlight Foundation has launched its "Party Time" project that will track parties at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions and fund raising activities by all lawmakers. The Sunlight Foundation also released a list of 400 parties and other functions scheduled for the two party conventions.

And Public Citizen has released a report finding that corporate donors and lobbyists have contributed more than $112 million toward the national conventions. "This flood of unlimited soft money from special interests, and the lavish parties and wining and dining it pays for at the conventions, runs counter to the federal election law and congressional ethics rules."

However, an editorial in the Washington Post is a bit more pragmatic; "the new lobbying law has meant a decided change for the better in the nature of convention partying." It would be unrealistic to think that the ethics law that was put in place last year would completely end such activities. "But the new rules have brought with them a new and welcome caution for those on both sides of the partying transaction. The era of big gift bags is over."

The Alliance for Justice has released a new fact sheet, 501(c)(3)s at National Party Conventions.