Lawmakers Using Retreats to Raise Money

WASHINGTON Feb 23, 2005 — Lawmakers traditionally escape Washington winters by signing on to lobbyist-sponsored junkets at exclusive, warm-weather resorts. Now, in a new twist on an old routine, they're inviting lobbyists and other supporters to join them on weekend retreats in exchange for political donations.

With events timed to coincide with congressional breaks like this week's recess, more and more lawmakers are padding their campaign and political action committee bank accounts by mixing recreation and fund raising at golf outings, ski trips or beach retreats.

Such events hold special appeal for Washington lobbyists, who find a day or two of schmoozing with members of Congress at a resort preferable to angling for a few minutes of face time at crowded Capitol Hill cocktail parties.

"If you can't find five minutes to talk about what you want to talk about in the course of a weekend, you should be in a different line of work," lobbyist Tony Podesta said. "Most of these weekends, it's not like they're opportunities to buttonhole, but more to bond.

"It's more quality time," he added.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=524250&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

Pity the families of people who think this way. :puke: