A FUNDRAISER? In the PEOPLE'S Capitol?

[Clio the Leo]

Two Members Appear to Break Rules on First Day of New Congress
Paul Blumenthal Jan. 7, 2011, 9:30 a.m.

Two House Republican members, Reps. Mike Fitzpatrick and Pete Sessions, missed their swearing in on Wednesday as they attended a fundraiser in Fitzpatrick's honor at the U.S. Capitol. These two not-quite-yet Congressmen then voted on legislation and introduced bills, adding a Dadaist element to the proceedings. Although astonishingly surreal, there’s a serious House Rules-related concern: lawmakers are barred from using official resources for campaign or fundraising activities.

"House rooms and offices are not to be used for events that are campaign or political in nature, such as a meeting on campaign strategy, or a reception for campaign contributors," according to the House Ethics Manual.

The Ethics Manual identifies an exception -- "when a Member is sworn in, the Member may hold a 'swearing-in' reception in a House office building that is paid for with campaign funds" -- but the event was a fundraiser, not merely a simple “swearing-in” ceremony.

A spokesman for Fitzpatrick told the Huffington Post's Ryan Grim that the event was not a fundraiser and that anyone could attend. The information available shows that the invite was a solicitation for campaign funds and was very different from other lawmaker invites for celebrations held in official House offices and buildings.

The invite says that it is an invitation to "Mike's Swearing In Celebration" and asks for at least $30 per person. The money appears to be for the bus trip to DC and entry to the celebration. The money, of course, goes to Rep. Fitzpatrick’s campaign account, is accompanied by a FEC disclaimer, and is solicited in whatever amount the donor chooses to give--contributors could select amounts ranging from $30 to $120 or more.

http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2011/01/07/two-members-appear-to-break-rules-on-first-day-of-new-congress/

[Parche]

1. Issa needs to investigate this one

:rofl::rofl;:rofl::hi:

[Tippy]

2. K&R....Call the leader and complain

Call the speakers office I wish wed could flood his office with calls
Already called and told him to keep his hands off my health care......

Office of the House Republican Leader
H-204 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[toddwv]

3. His website said that it was $30.00pp

I have a screen shot and the relevant US Code.



U.S. Code - Title 18: Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Text

(a) Prohibition. - (1) In general. - It shall be unlawful for any person to solicit or receive a donation of money or other thing of value in connection with a Federal, State, or local election from a person who is located in a room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties by an officer or employee of the United States.

It shall be unlawful for an individual who is an officer or employee of the Federal Government, including the President, Vice President, and Members of Congress, to solicit or receive a donation of money or other thing of value in connection with a Federal, State, or local election, while in any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties by an officer or employee of the United States, from any person. (2) Penalty. - A person who violates this section shall be fined not more than $5,000, imprisoned not more than 3 years, or both. (b) The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to the receipt of contributions by persons on the staff of a Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress or Executive Office of the President, provided, that such contributions have not been solicited in any manner which directs the contributor to mail or deliver a contribution to any room, building, or other facility referred to in subsection (a), and provided that such contributions are transferred within seven days of receipt to a political committee within the meaning of section 302(e) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.

Page 139 of the House Ethics manual also explicitly disallows fundraising using official resources (building are considered official resources):

The House buildings, and
House rooms and offices – including district offices – are supported with official
funds and hence are considered official resources. Accordingly, as a general rule,
they may not be used for the conduct of campaign or political activities.
Thus, for example, a Member may not film a campaign commercial or have
campaign photos taken in a congressional office. For rules on filming and taking of
photos on grounds near the Capitol, the office of the Sergeant at Arms should be
contacted.
In addition, House rooms and offices are not to be used for events that are
campaign or political in nature, such as a meeting on campaign strategy, or a
reception for campaign contributors.11 However, under long-standing Committee
policy, when a Member is sworn in, the Member may hold a ―swearing-in‖ reception
in a House office building that is paid for with campaign funds.12 A criminal statute
that prohibits the solicitation of campaign contributions in any House building,
room, or office is discussed below in this chapter, in the section on solicitation of
contributions.
9


Can't wait to watch the Republicans squirm out of this one. Probably won't take much but at least the media seems willing to focus on the Republicans actions right now.

[ncteechur]

4. HELL NO YOU CAN'T!

[harun]

5. I would sooOOOOO love to run against Fitzpatrick and kick him out of office in 2 years.