NY Times, July 25, 2004 For Corporate Donors, the Restraints Are Off By GLEN JUSTICE
WASHINGTON, July 24 - As the political conventions begin, corporate big spenders, who have been restrained by new campaign finance laws, finally can cut loose.
The Raytheon Company, IBM and Fidelity Investments each gave at least $1 million to the host committee for the Democratic National Convention in Boston, according to a donor list. AT&T, Amgen and Nextel Communications each gave at least $500,000. In all, more than 150 donors have contributed more than $39.5 million - money they could not legally give to a political party or a candidate under the new law but are permitted to donate to a convention.
"Corporate dollars are flowing rather freely," said Wright H. Andrews Jr., a lobbyist at Butera & Andrews. "A lot of folks are saying, 'Let the good times roll.' "
Indeed, donors are outdoing themselves to finance the conventions and spend money on parties throughout Boston and New York, courtesy of provisions in federal campaign finance laws and Congressional ethics rules that allow almost unlimited spending at conventions and their attendant social events.
In Boston this week, there will be a reception at Fenway Park before the Red Sox play the Yankees, as well as boat cruises, golf outings, concerts and late night events in locations like the trendy club Saint, which features an all-red "bordello room" and beds for patrons to lounge.
Lists circulating around Washington's K Street lobbying corridor trumpet 200 to 300 official and unofficial events from Saturday to Thursday, and similar rosters are already being created for the Republican convention in New York next month.
Depending on how much they have given, donors might get invitations to choice events or wads of passes to the convention. And many are giving parties in the hope of mixing with lawmakers, Congressional staff members and other decision makers, building relationships that may be good for business in Washington.
"These are kind of branding things," said John Jonas, head of public policy for the law firm Patton Boggs, which is giving a late-night party at Saint for hundreds of guests and dozens of lawmakers. "We like to think of ourselves as a big name in lobbying, and this is a Woodstock rock concert. It's a place you want to show up."
For example, roughly two dozen corporations and trade associations are sponsoring a retirement party for Senator John B. Breaux, a Louisiana Democrat who is stepping down this year, at the New England Aquarium on Tuesday. The event is expected to draw some 1,000 people, including up to 40 lawmakers. Sponsors spent $10,000 to $30,000 each to create a Caribbean theme, where guests will sip rum drinks and listen to Ziggy Marley perform as eels, turtles and sharks drift in a tank nearby.
Also on Tuesday, the MBNA Corporation, Merrill Lynch, the Bank of America Corporation and other companies will treat Democrats on the House Committee on Financial Services and the Senate banking committee to a brunch at the Bay Tower, a restaurant high above the city.
Another party for hundreds of lobbyists, lawmakers and convention V.I.P.'s will take place at the Museum of Fine Arts on Wednesday, sponsored by the Bellsouth Corporation, Motorola, Fannie Mae, the FedEx Corporation, the Altria Group and more than a dozen other companies that paid about $25,000 each. But the exhibits of ancient Greek artifacts and Chinese costumes will not be the primary draw. Instead, the Democratic whips in the Senate and House, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada and Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, will be the main attraction.
"It's an opportunity to do something nice for two big leaders in the Democratic Party who are very influential on many, many decisions that are made," said Anthony Podesta, a Democratic lobbyist who has three clients that are sponsoring the event. "There's no question that is on the mind of everybody who decided to sponsor this."
Lobbyists have been working for weeks to help clients set up their events, as well as begging and bartering to obtain party invitations, convention passes and other perks. At Mr. Podesta's firm, Podesta Mattoon, preparations began four months ago. A half dozen of the firm's Democrats have been working to pilot clients through the convention. Republicans in his firm are making similar preparations for New York.
For clients who are sponsoring events, the firm often helps with details like menus, wines, invitations and seating charts.
"It's not lobbying, it's party planning," he joked. "We could do weddings and bar mitzvahs in our office."
full: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/25/politics/campaign/25contribute.html -- Marxism list: www.marxmail.org
