The invitation promised that for $10,000, donors would get a private reception with Gov. Nathan Deal, House Speaker David Ralston and other House Republican leaders.
A little conversation, some refreshments, and a photo or two with the governor.
All you had to do was send a check — $1,000 for a general reception or $10,000 for a private one — to the governor’s daughter-in-law, Denise Deal, the fundraiser for the House Republican Trust’s event.
The recent event was a big-money beginning to a dash for political cash as the 2012 legislative session draws near. State law prohibits lawmakers from collecting campaign donations during the session.
Because of that prohibition, the faucet of special-interest contributions really starts gushing the week before the session: Legislators, statewide officials such as Deal and political action committees will haul in as much as $1 million in donations before the session begins Jan. 9.
At that moment, the three primal forces of Georgia politics — officeholders, lobbyists and money — are most closely aligned. Fundraisers will be held for at least 19 lawmakers from Jan. 3-5, the AJC learned. Each will feature legislators with their hands out and lobbyists with checkbooks.
These same lobbyists will wine and dine lawmakers during the session and pay for their football tickets, trips and golf outings when the session is over. In some cases, they help write the bills the General Assembly will vote on; in other cases, they work to kill legislation that could hurt their clients. They, and the special interests they represent, also play a major role in funding legislators’ campaigns.
Some say that if the timing of the great January money rush looks bad, it’s because, well, it is.
“It’s like the bill collector coming for money,” said longtime environmental lobbyist Neill Herring, who doesn’t contribute to lawmakers. “It’s just accepted. They are saying, ‘I am going to be looking at your bill, and your competition’s bill.’ The business lobbyists are basically being dunned.”
One lobbyist and frequent donor described the fundraising circuit before the session as a “cattle call” for lobbyists.
Rep. Allen Peake, R-Macon, treasurer of the House Republican Trust, defended lawmakers’ pre-session fundraising.
“There really is nothing sinister in it,” Peake said. “Logistically, it just makes sense.”
He said lawmakers show up at the Capitol in the weeks before the session, so it makes sense for them to hold fundraisers then so they can bank money before the dry spell. That spell lasts three months or more — the length of the session — and the state’s primaries come three months after that.
While Republicans get the biggest chunk of change — they’re in charge — Democrats have been no less aggressive.
For instance, on Jan. 4, the Wednesday before the session begins, a breakfast at Atlanta’s Commerce Club will be held to raise money for the Senate Democratic Caucus. At the same time, a fundraising morning reception will be held for a few Democratic House members at nearby Mary Mac’s restaurant. That evening another fundraiser is on tap, for Sen. Doug Stoner, D-Smyrna, at Steel Restaurant on West Peachtree Street. The next morning, House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, D-Atlanta, has a fundraiser at the Radial Cafe in Atlanta. That evening, it’s back to Steel for a House Democratic Caucus reception.
On Jan. 4, between 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., fundraisers for seven lawmakers — members of both parties — will be held at Atlanta’s Agave Restaurant, down the street from the statehouse. The invitation includes a list of each legislator’s committee assignments, just in case lobbyists aren’t sure.
At this time of year, lobbyists receive three to four invitations a day to fund-raisers, sometimes more, they say.
Supporting the GOP
The House Republican Trust fundraiser Dec. 6 at the Commerce Club was aimed at raising money to help keep the party in power. The trust, which supports House GOP candidates, had $106,000 in the bank as of the end of June, the most recent reporting period.
Peake said he didn’t know how much the event raised; official figures will be made public in January.
Denise Deal was chosen for the event because it was hosted by the governor and because she has been successful raising money for candidates in the past, Peake said.
Deal’s spokesman, Brian Robinson, said the governor would never tell a candidate or group that they had to use his daughter-in-law as a fundraiser.
“It’s not even implicit,” he said. “There are many great Republican fundraisers out there. She has been successful and it would make sense that legislative Republicans would seek her services.”
Lobbyists contacted by the AJC said they did not necessarily feel pressured to give to a candidate or cause just because the governor’s daughter-in-law was in charge of fundraising.
“I would look at the quality of the candidate and the quality of the organization,” said veteran lobbyist John “Trip” Martin, whose political action committee contributed about $5,000 to legislative candidates in the week before the 2011 session.
“In the final analysis, that is what I have to look at and what I use to make recommendations to my clients.”
Most of the money that flows in during the last-minute blitz goes to the party in charge. For instance, five Senate leaders took in about $112,000 from donors in the week before the 2011 session, according to campaign finance records. Most of it came from lobbyists or groups with lobbyists that have interest in legislation or state funding.
For example, supporters of Sunday alcohol sales contributed at least $36,000 in the week before the last session began. Their bill passed this year after a five-year legislative battle. The same groups had contributed heavily before previous sessions as well.
The state’s powerful nursing home lobby contributed $20,000 to almost 40 lawmakers and party caucuses last January. The state budget annually includes about $1 billion to pay for nursing home residents.
Martin hasn’t seen any increase in the number of fundraisers, but he has seen one change: “The amount [requested] is greater.”
Lawmakers and caucuses are generally “suggesting” contributions from $250 to $5,000, although a few are asking for more. A few also are asking for less. Sen. Jason Carter, D-Decatur, for instance, is setting the “suggested” minimum for his fundraiser the afternoon before the session starts at $50. His “gold” level contribution: $1,000.
Election season nears
Members of both parties say there are particularly good reasons this year to try to get the money chase going before the session.
Peake noted that this year, lawmakers will be going right from the session into election season. All 236 legislative seats are up for a vote this year.
“If you are going to have some money in the bank, you’d better have it ready before the session,” he said.
Sen. Nan Orrock, D-Atlanta, said lawmakers also will be running in newly drawn districts. So many lawmakers, particularly those from the minority Democratic Party, will be running for re-election in areas they haven’t previously represented. That means getting to know a new constituency.
“We are encouraging our caucus members to build up their campaign funds,” she said.
William Perry, executive director of Common Cause Georgia, said the pre-session fundraisers of both parties send a clear message to lobbyists.
“It’s obviously ‘pony up before we have this time period where you can’t give,’ ” Perry said. “The closer you can get to the session, the more you can give, the more it helps your cause.”
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A reception in honor of ...
Here is a sampling of fundraisers for various state legislators during the days leading up to the 2012 session, which begins Jan. 9.
Jan. 3
Democrats
5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Sen. Gloria Butler
Steel Restaurant, Atlanta
Platinum: $1,000; Gold: $500; Silver: $250
Minimum suggested: $250
4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Rep. Margaret Kaiser
Tomatillos, East Atlanta
Gold: $1,000; Silver: $500; Bronze: $250
Minimum suggested: $250
Republicans
3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Reps. Ron Stephens and Ann Purcell, and Democratic Rep. Bob Bryant
Agave Restaurant, Atlanta
(does not list levels of support, but lists members’ committee assignments)
Jan. 4
Democrats
8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Senate Democratic Caucus
The Commerce Club, Atlanta
Platinum: $5,000; Gold: $2,500; Silver: $1,000; Bronze: $500
Minimum suggested: $250
8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Reps. Stacey Evans and Elena Parent
Mary Mac’s, Atlanta
Suggested contribution: $250
4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Sen. Lester Jackson, Reps. Craig Gordon and Mickey Stephens
Agave Restaurant
Republicans
3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Majority Leader Larry O’Neal, Reps. Jay Roberts, Amy Carter, Tony McBrayer
Agave Restaurant, Atlanta
Jan. 5
Democrats
8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Rep. Stacey Abrams, House minority leader
Radial Café, Atlanta
Platinum: $2,500; Gold: $1,000; Silver: $500; Bronze: $250
Minimum suggested: $250
5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Georgia House Democratic Caucus
Steel Restaurant, Atlanta
Host: $5,000; Platinum: $2,500; Gold: $1,000; Silver: $500
Minimum suggested: $250
Jan. 8
Democrats
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Sen. Jason Carter
Twain’s Billiards & Tap, Decatur
Gold: $1,000; Silver: $500; Bronze: $250
Minimum suggested: $250
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