|
Bush fundraiser { June 13 2002 }
June 13, 2002
GOP Eyes $25M Dinner Tab
By John Bresnahan
GOP Congressional leaders, with help from President Bush and his Cabinet,
plan to raise $25 million or more at a joint House- Senate dinner next
Wednesday at the Washington Convention Center, the second massive
Republican fundraiser to be held at that venue during the past month.
The event could be one of the last huge fundraising bashes in Washington at
which soft-money donations can be accepted by national parties. Such
unlimited, largely unregulated donations will be banned after this year's
election under the campaign finance reform legislation signed into law by
Bush earlier this year, although legal challenges to the legislation have
only begun to work their way through the courts.
The gathering, also known as the President's Dinner, has received hefty
financial support from trade associations and corporate entities, according
to sponsors.
The American Council of Life Insurers, transportation giant CSX Corp.,
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, drug company GlaxoSmithKline, Microsoft Corp.,
the National Association of Beer Wholesalers and PepsiCo Inc. are among as
many as 15 groups and firms that have contributed at least $250,000 to
GOPcoffers for the event, Republicans said.
In addition to the dinner, high-dollar donors will also get lots of
personal attention from Bush and other top Republicans in the days leading
up to the soiree.
For $100,000 or more, donors get their choice of attending either a private
breakfast with Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.)or a luncheon with Senate
Minority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) next Wednesday.
There is also an exclusive reception, including a photo op, with the
President and other senior Bush administration officials prior to the June
19 gala.
Vice President Cheney will not be attending the $25,000-per-table dinner
because of security concerns, according to Republican insiders.
Individual GOP leaders have committed to raising big money from their own
donor lists for the dinner, which is slated to be one of the biggest
fundraisers in the city's history. The Republican National Committee just
hosted a $30 million-plus event withBush last month at the Washington
Convention Center. Funds from this dinner will be split between the
National Republican Congressional Committee and NationalRepublican
Senatorial Committee. Organizers expect roughly an 80-20 soft money-hard
money split from the dinner.
Each of the elected House Republican leaders as well as Rules Chairman
David Dreier (R-Calif.), Chief Deputy Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)and
Rep. Rob Portman (Ohio), chairman of the GOPleadership, have agreed to
raise at least $250,000 for the dinner, and some plan to dramatically
exceed that figure. Hastert, for instance, has already helped bring in at
least $500,000, according to GOPsources.
"This thing is going to be huge,"said a Republican leader this week,
speaking on the condition of anonymity. "Iwouldn't be surprised if this one
breaks all the records."
Rep. JohnBoehner (R-Ohio), chairman of the Education and Workforce
Committee, is chairing the overall dinner, while Sen. George Allen (R-Va.)
is overseeing the Senate portion and Rep.Richard Burr (R-N.C.) the House
side.
During Tuesday's Senate Republican policy luncheon,Allen handed out medals
to dozens of GOPSenators who have solicited donations for the event, and
the Virginia Republican was in turn given a toy crown by aides to reward
him for his work on behalf of the dinner.
Allen, who collected significantly more than $1 million for the event,
quickly handed off the crown to New Jersey GOP hopeful Doug Forrester, the
challenger to Democratic Sen. Robert Torricelli this fall. Allen joked that
if Forrester beat Torricelli and won the Republicans back their majority,
he "would be the king of the Senate."
Other lawmakers who have played big parts in the June 19 dinner include
Reps. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Ray LaHood (R-Ill.),
Pete Sessions (R-Texas) and Fred Upton (R-Mich.)as well as Sen. Don Nickles
(R-Okla.), said GOP sources.
Like Allen, Nickles has also raised more than $1.5 million for the dinner,
while Lott has raked in roughly $550,000.
On KStreet, several prominent Republicanlobbyists have agreed to spearhead
fundraising in their community.
Bruce Gates, a partner at Washington CouncilErnst &Young, and Richard
Creighton, president of the American Portland Cement Alliance, have played
lead roles in raising millions of dollars, mostly in soft money, for the
event. Gates' firm represents clients such as Anheuser-Busch, Citigroup and
the FordMotor Co., and he has played a similar role in other House-Senate
dinners.
GlaxoSmithKline CEOJ.P. Garnier is serving as the corporate point man for
the dinner.
Bush and Cheney have proven to be a huge boost to an already formidable
Republican fundraising machine, although public watchdog groups have
heavily criticized the President for his role as "Fundraiser in Chief."
Bush and Cheney have combined to help raise more than $67 million this
cycle for GOPlawmakers and candidates, not including this latest dinner,
and the two have attended more than 30 fundraisers just for House
Republicans.
Jenny Backus, communications director for the Democratic Congressional
CampaignCommittee, dismissed the GOP's fundraising prowess as overrated.
"The Republican Party may raise a lot of money, but they're also spending
money hand over fist,"noted Backus.
|
|
