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All five of Iowa’s Congressmen are out raising money for their re-election campaigns, but according to the Sunlight Foundation’s “Party Time” blog, when it comes to DC fundraisers, Republican 4th District Rep. Tom Latham of Ames has been the most active.
Last week, Latham hosted a golf fundraiser for his re-election campaign at the exclusive Country Club at Woodmore in Maryland. Co-sponsoring the event cost $2,500. Political action committees (PACs) had to pay $1,500 to attend, individuals only had to pay out $1,000.
U.S. Rep. Tom Latham, R-Ames.
Last month, Latham held a private dinner (“seating limited to 12 people”) along with House Minority Leader John Boehner at DC Coast on K Street. PACs could buy tickets for $5,000, couples only had to shell out $2,400.
Latham is holding a fundraiser for his leadership PAC, For America’s Republican Majority (FARM PAC), at Cava Restaurant in the nation’s capital later this year. Once again, it’ll cost $2,500 to co-sponsor the event, and only $1,000 to attend. Last year, Latham caught flak for the fundraising activities of FARM PAC, which spent nearly a quarter of the money it raised on trips around the country touted as fundraisers, mostly to prestigious golf resorts. During the 2008 election cycle, a little more than 34 percent of the PAC’s money went to political contributions, a practice that is supposed to be the main focus of these types of organizations.
The next most active DC fundraiser was 3rd District Democrat Leonard Boswell. Last month he held a breakfast fundraiser at Bistro Bis on E Street in Washington, DC. To attend individuals had to pay $500, PACs had to pay $1,000. The event was hosted by Louis Dupart, managing partner of the lobbying firm The Normandy Group, who according to his profile represents a “diverse group of Fortune 500 companies, principally on antitrust and competition issues.”
In March, Boswell held a dinner fundraiser hosted by Lyndon Boozer (a lobbyist for AT&T) and Roger Mott (a lobbyist for Verizon).
First District Democrat Bruce Braley held one DC fundraiser — a lunchtime gathering in March to watch to NCAA basketball tournament. The cost to attend ran from $500 for individuals to $2,500 for political action committees to co-host.
Second District Democrat Dave Loebsack held a reception at the National Democratic Townhouse to benefit his re-election campaign. Price to attend ranges from $500 to $5,000.
Fifth District Republican Steve King hasn’t held a DC fundraiser since February, when he held a lunch event at the Capital Grille. It cost $2,000 to host the event, $1,000 to attend.
The Sunlight Foundation posts invitations to DC fundraisers to its “Party Time” site that it receives from sources. Therefore, some events may not be publicized, and therefore wouldn’t show up on the site.
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