An inside look at influence-peddling in Philadelphia

Editor’s note: The Center for Public Integrity’s money-in-politics reporting team is bringing you news from the Democratic National Convention — focusing on special-interest influence, big-money politicking and corporate schmoozing. Reporters Michael Beckel and Carrie Levine are on the ground in Philadelphia. Please check back regularly as this article will be updated throughout the week. Click here to read our coverage of the Republican National Convention. 

NUNS LOBBY TO ‘MEND THE GAPS’

11:58 a.m., Thursday, July 28: They may not look like lobbyists, but a gaggle of Catholic nuns have a distinct message to share in Philadelphia.

The Nuns on the Bus, a project of NETWORK, is calling on Congress to “mend the gaps in wealth, income and access.”

Amid the Democratic National Convention, Nuns on the Bus is conducting three, two-hour workshops to educate people about gaps in seven key areas — tax justice, living wages, family-friendly workplaces, healthcare, housing, citizenship and democracy — and inspire people to take action.

On Wednesday afternoon, about three-dozen people gathered in a room in the Philadelphia Convention Center as nine of the Nuns on the Bus described how the immense gains seen by the wealthiest Americans since 1980, the modest gains seen by middle class and the decline seen by the country’s poorest citizens.

Its cause, they said: President Ronald Reagan’s implementation of trickle-down economics, reduction of the top tax brackets and clashes with labor unions.

“Policies made the mess,” said Sister Simone Campbell, the executive director of NETWORK. “Policies can fix the mess.”

It’s not that people in the top 1 percent are bad or evil, Campbell continued, but rather it’s that they are “so far away from the lived reality” of their less wealthy brethren.

The Catholic social justice group is making at least a few friends on Capitol Hill. At one point Wednesday, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., made a brief appearance at the event, praising the Nuns on the Bus and saying that “we are with you 100 percent.”

Lobbying records show that NETWORK spent $380,000 lobbying Congress and the federal government last year, and has spent $190,000 so far this year.

Since early July, the Nuns on the Bus bus tour has visited cities in 13 states and also made an appearance at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Along the way, they have been collecting pledge cards that will eventually be delivered to lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Speaking to attendees Wednesday, Campbell stressed the importance of being engaged in 2016.

“We need you this election cycle probably more than ever,” she said. “It’s going to depend on we the people to form a more perfect union.”

— Michael Beckel

TWITTER’S CONVENTION NEST

11:52 a.m., Thursday, July 28: Exhausted by running all over Philadelphia in the searing heat? Twitter has a refuge for you.

On Locust Street in downtown Philadelphia, Twitter’s logos plaster the outside of a restaurant and event space they’ve converted into the #TwitterDistrict, home to free wi-fi, trays of Prosecco glasses, mini lobster rolls and other goodies.

The lounge is mainly reserved for people Twitter works with, including reporters, but that list also includes members’ offices who want training in how to better use Twitter and Twitter products.

Twitter also used the space to host panels, such as one on “Women, Power and Politics” Wednesday whose lineup included  Stephanie Hannon, the chief technology officer for the Clinton campaign.

A Twitter spokesman said the company had a similar space at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland last week. It represents the company’s largest presence at conventions so far.

— Carrie Levine

THE DONALD TRIES TO TRUMP DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

11:21 a.m. Thursday, July 28: It used to be that Republicans would more or less take a week off while Democrats conducted their once-every-four-years national convention — and vice versa.

But Donald Trump’s assertion Wednesday that Russia should spy on Hillary Clinton’s emails has overshadowed some of the events unfolding in Philadelphia at the Democratic National Convention. (Democrats accused Trump of disloyalty; Trump says he was “being sarcastic.”)

Senior political reporter Dave Levinthal today dished about this and other convention developments with WBEN-AM 930 in Buffalo, N.Y. Listen here.

— The Center for Public Integrity

INCOME INEQUALITY, BROUGHT TO YOU BY …

8:27 a.m. Thursday, July 28: Income inequality is one of the most critical challenges facing the nation, and for $20,000 your company or organization could have been the “title co-sponsor” of an event today discussing the issue with Boston Mayor Martin Walsh and other Democratic mayors.

That’s according to promotional materials for the National Conference of Democratic Mayors event obtained by the Center for Public Integrity.

In addition to the title co-sponsorship, a $20,000 contribution would have also given you six tickets to the discussion, a one-year membership in the National Conference of Democratic Mayors’ Alliance program and four tickets to each of the other discussion events the group was holding during the Democratic National Convention, among other perks.

Not feeling the need to the most conspicuous brand associated with the event? Give $10,000 as a “gold sponsor” or $5,000 as a “silver sponsor” and receive a smaller number of tickets and other perks.

Earlier in the week, the National Conference of Democratic Mayors also held discussions about economic innovation and transportation and infrastructure issues, with similar rewards for funders.

It also held a networking event called a “Taste of America’s Cities” on Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team.

— Michael Beckel

 

TOM STEYER IS COMING FOR YOU, MILLENNIALS

7:12 p.m. Wednesday, July 27: Three-ounce glasses of Left Hand Nitro Stout and trays of pretzel rolls lined the bar. One corner held platters of fried chicken, marinated vegetables, cheese and other goodies. And the millennials were in the house.

The event at BRU, a Philadelphia bar, put together by political nonprofit NextGen Climate, was all about drawing them in. Called “#WhyWeVote: Millennials and the Election,” and introduced by environmentalist and megadonor Tom Steyer, a panel was set up “to talk about what it means to get millennials to understand the importance of your voice and your vote,” Steyer said.

Millennials “often say, politics is too corrupt for me to vote,” said Svante Myrick, the mayor of Ithaca, New York and the youngest mayor in the history of New York state. “Politics is too corrupt for me to participate… You don’t go to a party unless you’re invited.”

The panelists were there to talk about convincing millennials to go to the polls, something that is a major initiative for NextGen Climate this cycle, Steyer told the Center for Public Integrity after the panel concluded.

“We’re trying to organize field operations for people under the age of 30 so that they are informed particularly on energy and climate, something they particularly care about,” he said. Steyer said the effort includes field and online outreach.

Steyer, who together with his wife is the top individual donor at the federal level this cycle, according to campaign finance data tracked by the Center for Responsive Politics, has given more than $31 million, nearly all of it to NextGen Climate Action Fund, a super PAC affiliated with NextGen Climate.

— Carrie Levine

Who’s funding the host committee of #DemConvention? Some big donors featured prominently on flags downtownpic.twitter.com/IjnWLnGyrF

FOR LOBBYISTS, CLEVELAND ROCKS … BUT SO DOES PHILLY

3:27 p.m. Wednesday, July 27: Think there’s less schmoozing to be had at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia compared to that in Cleveland at the Republican National Convention?

Think again.

Center for Public Integrity political reporter Carrie Levine tells Arnie Arnesen of WNHN-FM 94.7 in Concord, N.H.: “There are plenty of parties, plenty of concerts and lots of events to go to — we’re keeping a very full schedule.”

Listen here to Carrie’s full interview here.

— The Center for Public Integrity

WHERE THE REAL PARTIES ARE

11:44 a.m. Wednesday, July 27: While national political convention pageantry takes place inside a sports arena, the real (and often exclusive) parties — involving lawmakers, lobbyists and other special interests — are this month taking place within bars, clubs and restaurants across Cleveland and Philadelphia.

Senior political reporter Dave Levinthal, who attended the Republican National Convention, dishes about this dynamic in the latest DecodeDC podcast with host Jimmy Williams. Listen here.

— The Center for Public Integrity

Late night entertainment with @resp_solutions & @KeshaRose during #DemConvention #DemsInPhillypic.twitter.com/kOsqGM2dXg

DON’T STOP … WORKING TO CURB GUN VIOLENCE

10:43 a.m. Wednesday, July 27: A party hosted Tuesday night in Philadelphia by left-leaning super PAC Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC mixed a festive atmosphere with a serious message.

Amid performances by Kesha and the Drive-By Truckers, organizers urged the crowd at the Theatre of Living Arts to support political candidates who support stricter gun control measures.

Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC — founded by former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who survived a 2011 assassination attempt, and her husband Mark Kelly, a retired astronaut — calls for people to “use every means available” to ensure Congress “puts communities’ interests ahead of the gun lobby’s.”

This election cycle, the super PAC is supporting Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton as well as a number of U.S. Senate candidates.

“Stopping gun violence takes courage,” Giffords told the crowd during a break in the nearly hour-long set by the Drive-By Truckers, a Georgia-based alt-country rock band whose latest albums has songs specifically dealing with gun violence and mass shootings. “Be courageous. The nation’s counting on you.”

Added Kelly: “Go out and vote on this issue.”

The party, following the Democratic Nationa Convention’s Tuesday session, was a hot ticket.

Even with one, admission wasn’t guaranteed: The venue filled up fast, with high-profile political attendees including the likes of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who resigned as the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee earlier this week, and Jim Messina, President Barack Obama’s former campaign manager.

By around midnight, the line outside stretched down the block and security at the door was telling would-be concert-goers they couldn’t go in until someone left.

Taking the stage about 1:15 a.m., Kesha played for roughly 15 minutes. Her brief set included hit songs “We R Who We R” and “Tik Tok.”

The music arrived after Kesha was introduced by actress Elizabeth Banks, who described herself as the “hugest, hugest fan” of Giffords and called Kelly a “national hero.” On Tuesday night, Banks also served as de facto master of ceremonies during the Democratic National Convention’s proceedings.

For her part, Kesha also added her voice in support of the Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC’s cause, saying that while we may not be able to control who feels hurt or pain in this country, “what we can control is who we give f—ing weapons to.”

Since it was formed in January 2013, the Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC has raised more than $31 million, including $3.7 million so far this year, according to disclosures submitted to the Federal Election Commission. It entered July with about $5 million in the bank, according to its most recent campaign finance filing.

Roughly half of the money the Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC has raised over its existence is from small-dollar donors who have given $200 or less, records show.

But some wealthy donors are also among its supporters, including former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and the Texas law firm of Democratic super donors Steve and Amber Mostyn. All have made six-figure contributions to Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC.

— Michael Beckel and Carrie Levine

YOUR 15 SECONDS OF FAME

7:57 a.m. Wednesday, July 27: Wish you could have introduced the keynote speaker at the New American Leaders Project event today in Philadelphia?

The privilege could have been yours for a cool $15,000 — which would have also included photo-ops with elected officials, candidates, delegates and other special guests, along with other perks.

Other sponsorship packages existed at the $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500 level, according to materials obtained by the Center for Public Integrity.

The New York-based New American Leadership Project touts itself as the “only national, nonpartisan organization focused on bringing New Americans into the political process.” In its five years of existence, it has trained nearly 400 people to run for office, according to material on its website. Its focus is on first- and second-generation immigrants.

What it hasn’t done yet: rake in the big bucks. Tax records filed with the Internal Revenue Service show the New American Leaders Project has yet to raise more than $50,000 during a single year.

— Michael Beckel

Lead-up to @HillaryClinton securing #DemConvention nomination unofficially began 3 1/2 yrs ago — with a super PAChttps://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/01/28/12082/pro-hillary-clinton-super-pac-created …

— Dave Levinthal

 

ROOM FOR ALL KINDS OF INTEREST GROUPS

4:24 p.m. Tuesday, July 26: Fundraisers and corporate lobbyists aren’t the only ones who take advantage of the conventions to conduct events and make sure members of Congress hear about their issues.

The Center for Reproductive Rights, which advocates for reproductive freedom and against restrictions on abortion, partnered with Cosmopolitan Magazine for a lunchtime panel on “Congress, the Courts and Your Body” this afternoon at the National Museum of American Jewish History.

The panel, which included U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey, both Democrats, drew a crowd that lunched on salmon and grilled vegetables. Attendees lauded the Supreme Court’s decision last month in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstadt, which overturned Texas restrictions on abortion clinics, a ruling Blumenthal described as a “landmark.”

Spotted among the crowd: actresses Constance Wu and Eva Longoria, a Democratic party fundraising stalwart who introduced U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey at the convention last night (an assistant said she wasn’t giving interviews today). Several other members of Congress, including U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell of Michigan and Joe Kennedy of Massachusetts, also attended.

Blumenthal, the sponsor of legislation that he said would require clear medical proof of necessity for state restrictions on abortion, and Watson Coleman encouraged supporters to reach out to members of Congress.

Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said the Whole Woman’s Health ruling is a “new tool” that will help the center and others take on other state laws. In addition, she said that in addition to such defensive work, advocates could now “push for affirmative laws.”

For example, she said it could be time to lay groundwork to “make sure that women who can’t afford abortion care can get it in federal programs.” Her comments appear aimed at the so-called Hyde Amendment, versions of which have for decades restricted the use of federal funds for abortion.

This year, the Democrats’ platform, passed yesterday, calls specifically for repealing the Hyde Amendment, a controversial proposal.

— Carrie Levine

Dem @USRepMikeDoyle takes batting practice at @Phillies park during #DemConvention charity event #DemsInPhilly #PA14pic.twitter.com/i6rSvKKCVo

 

CONCERNS ABOUT CORPORATE-SPONSORED DAY AT THE BALLPARK? ‘OVERBLOWN’ CONGRESSMAN SAYS

2:06 p.m. Tuesday, July 26: Batting practice during the Democratic All Star Challenge at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team, was briefly interrupted this morning for a few words from the event’s hosts and biggest sponsor.

James C. Greenwood, a former Republican congressman from Pennsylvania who now serves as the Biotechnology Innovation Organization’s chief executive officer, praised the House and Senate Energy and Commerce Committees for “working in a bipartisan fashion” to help cure diseases such as AIDS, Alzheimer’s and cancer.

“Bad policies,” Greenwood admonished, could “kill innovation.”

As the main sponsor of the charity baseball event — money donated by its corporate sponsors will go to three charities — the Biotechnology Innovation Organization had given $50,000, according to marketing materials obtained by the Center for Public Integrity.

Other sponsors — including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Microsoft and Monsanto — had donated between $5,000 and $20,000.

Part of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, the charity event was held “in honor of” the Democrats on the House and Senate energy and commerce committees. (A similar event was held in Cleveland last week during the Republican National Convention.)

Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, also spoke briefly at the charity fundraiser.

Sporting khaki shorts, a black Pittsburgh Pirates t-shirt and a yellow Pirates baseball cap, Doyle called the event “a great thing” and a chance to “benefit some great charities.”

Speaking to the Center for Public Integrity after the event, Doyle dismissed the idea that he, or any of the other lawmakers, would be unduly influenced by the companies’ charitable donations to support the event.

“It’s frustrating that people think we are somehow influenced by that,” Doyle said. “It’s really easy to believe that there’s always something bad going on,” he continued, calling concerns that any lawmaker would be swayed by these types of contributions “overblown.”

“We’re public servants,” he said.

He added that the best way to assess who was influencing him was to look at his voting record in Congress.

At one point in the interview, Doyle even pulled a list of the events’ sponsors out of his pocket to stress that he wasn’t beloved by many of them.

“There are a lot of people on that list that don’t like me,” he said.

Throughout the morning, a few dozen people milled about the stadium, in the dugout and on the field near home plate as guests with VIP tickets took a few swings during batting practice. Among them? both Doyle and Rep. Gene Green, D-Texas, another member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee who was also present at the event.

— Michael Beckel

 

THE MUSIC-LOVERS’ LOBBYISTS

2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 26: Colorado’s Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper has played his banjo on stage with the likes of the String Cheese Incident and Old Crow Medicine Show. And today, he’ll be one of the featured panelists at an event in Philadelphia called ArtsSpeak, with the likes of New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon.

Also featured at the event: entertainer Ben Vereen and musician Ben Folds, who will both perform.

ArtsSpeak will be hosted by the Arts Action Fund, in partnership with the United States Conference of Mayors, the National Association of Music Merchants and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance.

For its part, the National Association of Music Merchants has spent $160,000 lobbying Congress so far this year regarding access to music education programs in schools, according to federal records. Also among its concerns? Regulations that prohibit the sale of products containing ivory and that ban the importation of illegally harvested wood.

Not in Philadelphia? The discussion — and musical performances — will be broadcast online live here at 4 p.m. EDT.

— Michael Beckel

 

HUD SECRETARY HONORED AT LAVISH LUNCHEON

12:57 p.m. Tuesday, July 26: He may not have been selected as Hillary Clinton’s vice president, but Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro has at least received a leadership award by the Latino Leaders Network.

Castro collected the award — and give a speech to the group — at a luncheon today in Philadelphia at the lavish Crystal Tea Room, a venue complete with “carved columns and opulent crystal chandeliers.” (A wedding reception there typically runs between $20,500 and $33,550.)

According to promotional materials for the invitation-only event obtained by the Center for Public Integrity, “special guests” included Reps. Xavier Becerra of California, Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico and Linda Sanchez of California, as well as former Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson, former Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Sponsors of the affair, meanwhile, included the Anheuser-Busch Foundation, GEICO, ComEd, PECO and Southwest Airlines, as well as NextGenClimate, an advocacy group formed by billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer.

On the Latino Leaders Network’s website, Anheuser-Busch, the world’s largest beer maker, is the sole company listed as a “premier sponsor” of the quarterly luncheon series. Tax records show the Anheuser-Busch Foundation has contributed $100,000 annually to the Latino Leaders Network in recent years.

— Michael Beckel

COURT SAYS CONVENTION DONORS’ IDENTITIES CAN STAY SECRET

9:45 a.m., Tuesday, July 26: Comcast’s logo is splashed across signs welcoming Democratic delegates to the Wells Fargo Center.

Tents in the “convention village” offering video games, cocktails, and buffets are sponsored by a series of firms and trade associations that want lawmakers’ attention and goodwill.

Unions have filed paperwork disclosing seven-figure contributions to the host committee of the Philadelphia convention.

The host committee itself has posted a thank-you to a list of especially generous corporate sponsors on its website.

And yet, despite all that exposure, the host committee has fought to keep its official donors list secret. State authorities have ruled the records should be public. But yesterday the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas handed convention planners a major victory, allowing the host committee to maintain donor anonymity for another two months.

The host committee is required to file reports about its finances with the city of Philadelphia because the city has extended a $15 million line of credit to the host committee as a backstop to its fundraising efforts. A state agency said the records had to be disclosed, but the host committee appealed.

The host committee’s executive director, Kevin Washo, and lawyers for the committee said the information is confidential and proprietary, and the committee is still fundraising, and releasing the information sooner could hurt their efforts. Federal election law allows the host committee to wait to disclose its donors until after the election.

Anna Adams-Sarthou, a spokeswoman for the host committee, said it has raised about $58 million in cash and pledges and $16 million in in-kind contributions so far, and is working to raise another $1 million in cash.

“We appreciate that the Court has recognized that the Host Committee is required to be among the most transparent of all organizations by federal law,” she said in a statement. “This ruling emphasizes the fact that we have been following federal guidelines for the last two years and will help us complete the work to put on a successful convention.”

— Carrie Levine

Charity batting practice w/ Dem lawmakers draws special interest $ at #DemConvention http://bit.ly/2atuw13 pic.twitter.com/zkelJADVSx

THE ‘GRAND SLAM PACKAGE’

8:07 a.m. Tuesday, July 26: The Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Microsoft, AT&T, Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Consumer Technology Association and Monsanto are among the special-interest groups paying for the privilege of taking batting practice and socializing with lawmakers today at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team, according to materials obtained by the Center for Public Integrity.

The “Democratic All Star Challenge” charity batting practice event honors the Democratic members of the House and Senate’s Energy and Commerce committees, while raising money for the D.C.-based Washington Literacy Center, the Pittsburgh-based Center of Life and Phillies Charities, the charitable arm of the baseball team.

According to marketing materials obtained by the Center for Public Integrity, sponsorships range from $5,000 for the “sports fan package” to $50,000 for the “grand slam package,” which the Biotechnology Innovation Organization appears to have purchased.

Each tier includes a number of perks such as general admission tickets to the event, as well as tickets for either regular batting practice and VIP batting practice with former Phillies outfielder Milt Thompson. (Former Phillies pitcher Dickie Noles will also lead a pitching clinic during the event.)

Another apparent perk of being the top sponsor? Giving a speech to attendees.

James C. Greenwood, a former Republican congressman from Pennsylvania who now serves as the Biotechnology Innovation Organization’s chief executive officer, is scheduled to deliver remarks during the event. So is Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, who sits on its Communications and Technology subcommittee as well as its Energy and Power subcommittee.

Doyle is also the longtime coach of the Democrats’ congressional baseball team, which plays against a Republican team once a year each summer in Washington, D.C., for charity.

— Michael Beckel

 

CONVENTION MONEY … AND MAYHEM

11:57 p.m. Monday, July 25: How do the Democratic National Convention and Republican National Convention contrast?

And what about the money behind them both?

Center for Public Integrity senior political reporter Dave Levinthal today spoke with KALW-FM 91.7’s “Your Call” in San Francisco and TRT World’s “The Newsmakers” program about these and other convention-related issues.

Listen and watch.

— The Center for Public Integrity

Here’s what @BernieSanders had to say about campaign finance issues & the Koch brothers in #DemConvention speechpic.twitter.com/OZKdWPbNk5

So, @BernieSanders says @HillaryClinton will fight ‘Citizens United’ decision But, this: https://www.publicintegrity.org/2016/04/07/19528/inside-hillary-clintons-big-money-cavalry … &https://www.publicintegrity.org/2016/04/07/19521/how-citizens-united-helping-hillary-clinton-win-white-house …

Inbox: a Michelle Obama email to Clinton’s list, asking for donations.pic.twitter.com/OPxMkVoRkt

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