Rep. Becerra Skips Ice Cream Fundraiser For Health Care Vote

As the House Committee on Ways and Means wrangled over health care reform legislation on Thursday, one of the panel's members, Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) missed his own ice cream party at the National Democratic Club's townhouse near the Capitol. Colorful balloons marked the spot.

The invitation for the event, titled "Cool Down and Chill Out with Congressman Xavier Becerra," was posted on the Sunlight Foundation's website, www.politicalpartytime.org. Price of admission: a $500 campaign contribution from individual guests or $1,000 from guests representing political action committees.

The Huffington Post visited the event as part of its effort to cover totally normal, plain-vanilla lobbying around the Hill. Of the nine fundraisers known to be happening Thursday, this was the only one that held the possibility of vanilla ice cream. It was a really hot day.

This reporter was politely denied access to the event. Arriving guests, including a lobbyist for the Independent Community Bankers Association, and another from the United Auto Workers, refused to bring any ice cream outside.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the top donors to Becerra's 2010 campaign committee are in the health care and insurance industries. Becerra is a member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health.

Michael Fraioli, of Fraioli & Associates, a consulting firm that organizes Democratic fundraisers, disapproved of the Huffington Post's attempt to report on this event. (Fraioli's firm helped set up a fundraiser happening at the same time but at a difference place for Rep. Zachary Space of Ohio.)

Fraioli accused this reporter of not identifying himself when trying to meet and greet arrivals, which this reporter steadfastly denies. Perhaps in an attempt to help this reporter do his job better, Fraioli grabbed the reporter's notepad, but he did not succeed in taking it away.

Around 7 p.m., a Becerra staffer untied the balloons from the porch railing. The congressman, who stayed in the Capitol to help his committee approve the health care bill, had missed out on the ice cream.

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Comments

[LeeCalif]

So, only after the fundraiser is publicized does the lawmaker decide to stay and vote and complete
the people's business.

What a guy..

[youtubeit]

as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved."

good articles: http://www.iamned.com

[DoctorWhoDat]

This a joke?

[Chocolate1950]

You're still my hero, Delaney. I believe it became known to the congressman at some point that the Huff Post would be there somewhere.

Members of powerful Congressional committees (especially House Ways and Means) should not be allowed to receive fundraising monies from the industry lobbies for which their committee specifically must make decisions.

How can they be subjective?


PEACE

[DanniLomo]

Am I the only one who noticed the impishness of this post? They can't all be about the sky falling, some are about ice cream and weird clipboard assaults. Keep it up.

[ChknFngr]

Wow, now this guy is God because he skipped a fundraiser to vote (do his real job)...

[wndrwrthg]

O.K. this cannot be allowed to stand. Soon we will have other congress members skipping out on fund raisers to do their elected job, and then where will we be?

[Bitsko]

Good work, Mr. Delaney. Keep it up!

[BenWex]

This is not news at all. She is doing her job. Waste of internet.

[vslay]

I didn't realize Xavier was a woman's name.

[Tundrapat]

Apparently Xavier's parents didn't either.

[Epiphany2b]

Isn't it possible that you missed the point? If indeed the top donors to Becerra's 2010 campaign committee are in the health care and insurance industries, of course it was in their best interest that he missed whatever he had going on to vote on an issue that was near and dear to their heart . . . it meant money in his pocket, and doing the will of his masters. Get it?

[KIMBER]

He's my congress critter and I love him. He's part of the Progressive Caucus, he supports not just the public option but single payer health care - I politic him all the time on various issues, but it's frequently to thank him because he almost always does the right thing.

[gfs5541]

That's cool. Because you voted the right way, I will treat you to all the ice cream that you can stand.v Who's with me?

[ChknFngr]

*Crickets chirping*

[cowman]

Why is this news? If he skipped the vote to fundraise, THAT would be news.

What's next?

"Minor Scheduling Glitch Has Congressman Attending TWO Lunches In The Same Day"?

"Senator Goes To The Bathroom At The Same Time As A Lobbist"?

"President Uses Toothpick, Does Not Recycle"

[Sepulchre]

You would be surprised I think to see how many politicians would put raising money for themselves and their campaigns before a vote on anything. It is more rare for a politician to give enough of a shlt to show up for a vote that benefits his constituents more than himself.

[threeboys]

Because it is no longer news that our Congressman are more involved in fundraising than doing their job they were elected to do. So when they actually go to work...that is news.

[123dee]

I think this is news, someone actually doing their elected job is quite rare these days.

[prdbldngheart]

Nice to see a congressman with his priorities straight. It's refreshing.

[davidwayneosedach]

Of course he had to vote to protect his health care and insurance supporters. That's where the real money is.

[Sepulchre]

From what I know of this Senator he would be voting for the Health Care reform, which would benift most all Americans, so I'm not sure where your comment is coming from.

[KIMBER]

He's not a senator, he's a congressman, from Los Angeles, CA.

[AvidReader19]

The way to fix the majority of our problems is simple..."Campaign Finance Reform".