Reporter Leaves Driehaus Breakfast Fundraiser Hungry

There's no better way to start the day in Washington than by shoveling over some cash to a politician -- which is why there were no fewer than seven fundraising breakfasts scheduled for Thursday morning.

As part of its ongoing mission to cover run-of-the mill lobbying as it happens in real time, the Huffington Post tried to crash one of them -- held at a townhouse owned by a major health-care lobbying firm to benefit freshman Rep. Steve Driehaus, an Ohio Democrat fortunate enough to have scored a seat on the House Financial Services Committee.

But we were turned away. Yet again.

The invitation, posted on the Sunlight Foundation's website, politicalpartytime.org, asked for a $5,000 campaign contribution to "chair" the event, $2,500 to "host," $1,000 from political action committees and $500 from individual guests. The venue, a modest townhouse near the Capitol, is owned by Strategic Health Care, according to the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue. The Center for Responsive Politics identifies Strategic Health Care as a "heavy hitter" that lobbies on behalf of all manner of health industry clients and has a lobbying income of over $2 million so far for 2009.

Driehaus has benefited in his home state from unsolicited advertisements paid for by the pharmaceutical industry. Driehaus faces a challenge from the Republican he ousted from the seat in November.

At the door, a staffer for the Driehaus reelection campaign politely said the event was closed to press. He also declined to provide details about the guest list.

But the Huffington Post had better luck than at least one guest, who was walking down the stairs when this reporter arrived. Asked if he was there for the Driehaus event, he said, "I guess not."

You couldn't get in? The fundraiser's not happening?

"Apparently not."

The man, who apparently had not bothered to ring the doorbell, declined to identify himself and started walking away. When the Huffington Post rang the doorbell, the Driehaus campaign staffer immediately opened the door. The staffer laughed when told about the man who thought the event was off. Asked if he wanted this reporter to chase the guy down, the staffer declined.

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Comments

[demomntgirl]

08:30 AM on 07/31/2009

And this guy is a democrat??
This guy makes me AHSAMED TO BE A DEM!

The farther we go...
the more I don't SEE...
TRANPARENCY in DC!

[hauty007]

04:20 AM on 07/31/2009

GET over, find your info. somewhere else, grow a pair.

[sense oar sheep]

01:54 AM on 07/31/2009

this thread where health insurance campaign contributors are meeting congress in secret is related to to this thread :

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/30/pelosi-health-insurance-c_n_247924.html

[dzent1]

07:08 PM on 07/30/2009

Gee, H.uff.po reporter, now you know how the arbitrary c. ens.or sh.ip of so many posters on the boards feels to most of us here.

[wandering girl]

11:17 PM on 07/30/2009

wait, you're complaining that HuffPost has the right to censor posts? last I looked, HuffPost wasn't a government organization. the 1st Amendment gives you the right to free speech in public, not in a private (and this is private - you have to register and agree to the TOS) venue. otherwise, I could walk into your home or place of business and spout off anything I wanted to. but I can't.

[dzent1]

12:40 AM on 07/31/2009

If you haven't had them delete at least 40% of your posts, you simply haven't LIVED, darling!

If they weren't so completely arbitrary about it, I could perhaps see some reason other than some deep-seated need to quell intelligent, if occasionally colorful, adult speech.

[tantrictim]

06:37 PM on 07/30/2009

could this guy be any whiter?

[BlueFloyd]

07:35 AM on 07/31/2009

he was just spotted in a tony suburb, eating a ham and cheese on wonder bread, and pondering nascar.....



....so....no.....

[averygard]

05:04 PM on 07/30/2009

You weren't trying to bring in brangelina again, were you?

[jrjones529]

04:38 PM on 07/30/2009

time to start calling Driehaus and letting him know how we feel.

[fedupinfla]

04:52 PM on 07/30/2009

Washington, D.C. Address
408 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

District Address
441 Vine Street
Suite 3003
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[dawnec1957]

04:35 PM on 07/30/2009

C-span 3 is caring Mark-UP 's in Congress. The Weiner amendment for SIngle Payer is suppose to be brought up. I havent heard it call up yet..Anyone else out here in the Blogaspher know if it has been voted on?

[ljc]

07:23 PM on 07/30/2009

They are fighting over 4 to19 cents on the dollar paid to private insurance companies that offer Medicare Advantage.

[ljc]

07:30 PM on 07/30/2009

Here comes the Weiner amendment.

[getsit]

04:32 PM on 07/30/2009

What happened to undercover investigating? Can't you find a way to sneak into one while trying to get into another? Pay your fee at the door, go in a one of the fold.

[Rnactivist]

04:29 PM on 07/30/2009

Face it people, our senators and congressman are owned by corporate america and until we can get term limits or campaign finance reform...things will not change...they will continue to do whats best for corporations and not people.

[Mohanna]

04:12 PM on 07/30/2009

Ah Yes, Goobers making friends and influencing friends. Everywhere they go. There are not alot of people left for the Goobers to alieninate.

[tucsoncindy]

04:05 PM on 07/30/2009

Arthur, I'm 56 and in the 3rd stages of congestive heart failure and my story is like so many others that are shared with you. I've lost everything and now depend on state access for medical coverage.
I live in Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford's district and as stated on her web-page she's a proud member of the Blue Dog Demo's. Can you or anyone out there, share with me ,her exact stand on Health Care reform and did she vote to delay the passing of this bill. We need Health Care Reform Now. I feel as if we're being feed to the lions while the greedy cheer with delight. God help us all.
Arthur thank you very much for letting me sound off.

[taddles]

04:10 PM on 07/30/2009

If I were on deaths door there would a be a lot of others who would be there with me.

[CaptainFailmore]

05:12 PM on 07/30/2009

From: http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Gabby_Giffords.htm -

- Expand access to affordable health care. (Nov 2006)
- Voted YES on giving mental health full equity with physical health. (Mar 2008)
- Voted YES on Veto override: Extend SCHIP to cover 6M more kids. (Jan 2008)
- Voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility. (Oct 2007)
- Voted YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D. (Jan 2007)
- Better and immediate funding for Medicare & Medicaid. (Dec 2000)
- Prescription drug benefit within Medicare. (Jun 2000)
- Remove restrictions on estriol (menopause medication). (Jun 2008)

That's a great website, by the way. Any time you want a summary of big decisions a representative has made, just Google for their name and 'on the issues' or look for them on the site itself. (http://www.ontheissues.org/) There are also quotes pertaining to each topic, if the representative has spoken on a specific issue. Giffords has eight on health care.

From other Internet sources I've gathered that she supports health care reform. Apparently her preferred route to reform would be a public insurance option, but no endorsement is given of single-payer as far as I'm aware.

[tucsoncindy]

07:09 PM on 07/30/2009

Thank you Captain for the website info that's what I was looking for. I appreciate your attention to the facts and taking the time to answer my question.

[globality]

03:59 PM on 07/30/2009

500$ to get in.


Ever hear of a hidden microphone ?

[hmmmmmer]

04:04 PM on 07/30/2009

I agree, if this is so criminal then pay the $500 and attend and see what is being said and report it, these people are being paid by the public and should be answering to someone. That someone should be the American people along with their constituency.

[ibsteve2u]

03:57 PM on 07/30/2009

I surely wish that you could get these attempts televised to the American People....I've long said that Congress should be sent home to do their voting over the 'net and only use the House and Senate buildings for ceremonial purposes.

That way, their constituents could see who their Representatives and and Senators are actually owned by - and perhaps camp out by their local Congressmember's office door and "greet" the visiting lobbyists appropriately.

[expired]

03:39 PM on 07/30/2009

KEEP UP THE PRESSURE!

The Blue Dog Coalition

Contact these members of Congress and urge them to support the public plan option! These are the Democrats holding us back from the best health care plan possible.
Key people to contact - view the entire list of the 56 Blue Dog Democrats here!

Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration
Rep. Baron Hill (IN-09), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy
Rep. Charlie Melancon (LA-03), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications
Rep. Heath Shuler (NC-11), Blue Dog Whip
Rep. Mike Ross (AR-04)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The List of Democratic Senators not directly supporting the public plan health care option
Call and email them, telling them to support President Obama's public plan option!

[dawnec1957]

04:49 PM on 07/30/2009

Heath Shuler (NC)...Wasn't he a QB in pro football in the 90's?