Rep. Xavier Becerra — or, to be more precise, lobbyists working on his behalf — wasted no time Thursday capitalizing on the California congressman’s appointment to the congressional super committee.
A little over two hours after Becerra was named to the powerful panel, Investment Company Institute’s Jim Hart sent out an email encouraging attendance for the trade group’s upcoming $1,500 per person fundraiser based on Becerra’s new found status as one of the elite 12.
We will host an event for Congressman Xavier Becerra, not only Vice Chairman of the Democratic Caucus but also who has just been named to the new deficit reduction commission,” Hart, political affairs officer for ICI wrote. “This will be Mr. Becerra’s first event since being named to the commission and may be one of the first for any of the twelve members of the group.”
Hart added, “This event could give all attendees a glimpse into what will most assuredly be the primary topic of discussion between now and the end of the year.”
The event hosted by Hart and several other senior ICI employees, including President and CEO Paul Schott Stevens, Chief Government Affairs Officers and Co-heads Dean Sackett III and Don Auerbach, among others, is scheduled for Aug. 31 in the trade group’s headquarters.
ICI’s other registered lobbyists, Dean R. Sackett III, Peter J. Gunas III, Allen C. Huffman and Donald C. Auerbach, are listed atop the invitation with Hart.
The suggested contribution amount is $1,500.
Becerra said he did not ask ICI to trumpet his seat on the supercommittee to attract more contributions.
"I did not know, did not ask, would not ask and I will not ask any of my supporters to use my appointment to the select committee for purposes outside its principle focus," Becerra said in a statement. "That's my position today and that's what my position will be for my tenure on the committee."
Ianthe Zabel, ICI's spokeswoman, said the trade group took full responsibility for the language in Hart's e-mail and the decision to send it out to potential donors on Thursday afternoon.
Liberal and good-government watchdog groups argue it is not appropriate for members of the supercommittee to hold fundraisers while working on the massive deficit-reduction package.
Twenty-five groups sent a letter to Congress on Aug. 4 demanding they “cease all political fundraising for themselves, their party, or for other candidates; and provide full transparency on any meetings with outside groups or individuals regarding the committee’s work, including meetings with lobbyists, corporate CEOs, or donors.”
Craig Holman, the government affairs lobbyist for Public Citizen, which signed the letter, predicted lobbyists would swarm the event for Becerra.
“This is likely to be a very, very successful fundraising event,” Holman said. “It’s going to go beyond the financial services industry. Government contractors who are eager to throw their money at the feet of the supercommittee will show up.
“This clearly shows the critical importance of getting disclosure of what’s going on and getting a handle on who is organizing these fundraisers.
“This is a small group that will be deciding the fate of our economy unilaterally,” he said of the supercommittee.
In an interview, Hart said the fundraiser has been “planned for some time” and he had previously sent out a first round of invitations.
Hart said Becerra’s campaign would pay for the room and catering costs, and ICI’s political action committee would host the event. The PAC hosts fundraisers for lawmakers about 10 to 14 times a year, he said.
Zabel said: "ICI's PAC sponsors 10-14 events a year and the schedule for each calendar year is set in January. Congressman Becerra's fundraiser was on this year's schedule set in January and followed our regular process.
A little over two hours after Becerra was named to the powerful panel, Investment Company Institute’s Jim Hart sent out an email encouraging attendance for the trade group’s upcoming $1,500 per person fundraiser based on Becerra’s new found status as one of the elite 12.
We will host an event for Congressman Xavier Becerra, not only Vice Chairman of the Democratic Caucus but also who has just been named to the new deficit reduction commission,” Hart, political affairs officer for ICI wrote. “This will be Mr. Becerra’s first event since being named to the commission and may be one of the first for any of the twelve members of the group.”
Hart added, “This event could give all attendees a glimpse into what will most assuredly be the primary topic of discussion between now and the end of the year.”
The event hosted by Hart and several other senior ICI employees, including President and CEO Paul Schott Stevens, Chief Government Affairs Officers and Co-heads Dean Sackett III and Don Auerbach, among others, is scheduled for Aug. 31 in the trade group’s headquarters.
ICI’s other registered lobbyists, Dean R. Sackett III, Peter J. Gunas III, Allen C. Huffman and Donald C. Auerbach, are listed atop the invitation with Hart.
The suggested contribution amount is $1,500.
Becerra said he did not ask ICI to trumpet his seat on the supercommittee to attract more contributions.
"I did not know, did not ask, would not ask and I will not ask any of my supporters to use my appointment to the select committee for purposes outside its principle focus," Becerra said in a statement. "That's my position today and that's what my position will be for my tenure on the committee."
Ianthe Zabel, ICI's spokeswoman, said the trade group took full responsibility for the language in Hart's e-mail and the decision to send it out to potential donors on Thursday afternoon.
Liberal and good-government watchdog groups argue it is not appropriate for members of the supercommittee to hold fundraisers while working on the massive deficit-reduction package.
Twenty-five groups sent a letter to Congress on Aug. 4 demanding they “cease all political fundraising for themselves, their party, or for other candidates; and provide full transparency on any meetings with outside groups or individuals regarding the committee’s work, including meetings with lobbyists, corporate CEOs, or donors.”
Craig Holman, the government affairs lobbyist for Public Citizen, which signed the letter, predicted lobbyists would swarm the event for Becerra.
“This is likely to be a very, very successful fundraising event,” Holman said. “It’s going to go beyond the financial services industry. Government contractors who are eager to throw their money at the feet of the supercommittee will show up.
“This clearly shows the critical importance of getting disclosure of what’s going on and getting a handle on who is organizing these fundraisers.
“This is a small group that will be deciding the fate of our economy unilaterally,” he said of the supercommittee.
In an interview, Hart said the fundraiser has been “planned for some time” and he had previously sent out a first round of invitations.
Hart said Becerra’s campaign would pay for the room and catering costs, and ICI’s political action committee would host the event. The PAC hosts fundraisers for lawmakers about 10 to 14 times a year, he said.
Zabel said: "ICI's PAC sponsors 10-14 events a year and the schedule for each calendar year is set in January. Congressman Becerra's fundraiser was on this year's schedule set in January and followed our regular process.
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