Nuggets from the notebook while pining for the New York strip steak at Charlie Palmer Steak in Washington D.C. . . .
U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, and U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Maine, have had a busy year building their re-election war chests.
According to data released by the Sunlight Foundation, a nonpartisan organization devoted to government transparency, both lawmakers have been the beneficiaries of a series of high-yield fundraisers held in Washington D.C., and several in Maine.
The data shows that Snowe has had at least 19 fundraisers this year, most of them at Charlie Palmer Steak in D.C. (cost of the dry-aged New York strip: $48). Michaud has had 13. The information is not comprehensive because Sunlight relies on anonymous lobbyist sources to provide copies of event invitations.
That may explain why Sunlight shows that U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, has had one fundraiser this year. The next is is scheduled for February 2013 at Pingree’s home in D.C.
Still, the information provided is rich in detail.
For example, in December Michaud will be the beneficiary of an event called “Maine Christmas in DC” at the National Democratic Club Townhouse (Missouri Rep. Russ Carnahan’s 12-ounce Kansas City Steak, pan-seared with black pepper and cognac: $29).
The gathering is organized by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Each prospective host has to pay $5,000, while sponsors pay $2,500, political action committees $1,000 and individuals $500.
The party hosts offer a snapshot of the people and organizations seeking influence over the candidates.
It’s probably no surprise that the bulk of the organizations hosting Michaud’s fundraisers are unions.
Earlier this month, the Seafarers International Union PAC and other union organizations held a party for Michaud. Seafarers is listed as a “heavy hitter” by the Center for Responsive Politics. In 2010 the organization gave $1.5 million to congressional candidates, including $1,000 to Michaud.
Another host, the American Maritime Officers Voluntary PAF, representing transportation unions, gave Michaud $9,000 in 2010 and so far has contributed $2,000 to his re-election effort.
Michaud’s fundraisers have mostly been organized by the DCCC. However, several lobbyists representing trade unions have also thrown parties.
Snowe’s benefactors feature some of the most influential lobbyists in D.C.
In June, lobbyists Michael Bopp, Jane Calderwood and Karen Judd Lewis hosted an event for Snowe at Charlie Palmer Steak in D.C.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Bopp works for Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, which lists as clients General Electric, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the University of Maine.
Judd Lewis represents Southwest Airlines.
Another event was hosted by David Lugar, a lobbyist for Google and the Blackstone Group, a multi-billion dollar investment firm that recently gave $3 million for entrepreneurial development at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station. Blackstone’s PAC and its employees are also major contributors to Snowe’s re-election bid.
The same goes for Fresenius Medical Care, which is among Snowe’s top contributors. Its lobbyist, Scott Weaver, hosted a party for Snowe at Charlie Palmer Steak over the summer.
Snowe’s other notable party hosts include Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld, a firm that has spent $17.7 million lobbying Congress this year. Wind developer First Wind has also hosted a party for Snowe, as has Fluor Corp., an international energy company known for completing the Trans-Alaska pipeline and currently involved in a modernization project for BP oil refineries.
One step ahead
The American Chemistry Council has spent millions lobbying state legislatures, including Maine’s, against legislation that would ban bisphenol-A, or BPA, from baby bottles and sippy cups.
So some may have been puzzled to see the ACC recently issue a news release declaring that BPA is no longer used to manufacture baby bottles and sippy cups and won’t be in the future.
The ACC said BPA had been removed from those items a long time ago because of customer preference.
So why the full-court press against banning BPA?
So far the ACC hasn’t said, but some environmental groups and health advocates think that the organization fears that a ban would lead to restrictions in other products containing BPA, including some food containers.
The ACC also believes that Food and Drug Administration should enact restrictions on BPA, not states that may adopt uneven regulations that are difficult to comply with.
LePage appearance schedule
Over the last several weeks the LePage Administration has begun releasing the governor’s public appearance schedule. The administration had declined to do so before, but it has since adopted a more open policy.
Here’s where LePage will be this week:
Monday: East Millinocket Mill visiting mill workers who have recently returned to work.
Tuesday: Prescription Drug Abuse Summit at Point Lookout in Northport.
Wednesday: Job creation workshop at Husson University in Bangor.
Thursday: Official visit to Quebec and Montreal, Canada.
Saturday: Blaine House Food Drive for the Homeless.
For times and background on the governor’s appearances, visit maine.gov/governor/lepage
smistler@sunjournal.com
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