Yesterday in Cravaack goes public in Duluth, quake strikes East Coast, Republicans admit golf is boring, Bluestem posted about a fundraising email invitation being sent to lobbyists, remarking:
What's remarkable here is two-fold. First, the admission by a Republican that golf is boring.
The second is the open auctioning off of elected officials. While all of those who passed this on to Bluestem are registered lobbyists, without additional investigation, we cannot assert here that only lobbyists received an offer to bid on Republican legislators. We might also assume, for instance, that corporate CEOs, bank fat cats, private sector ALEC members, and other folks who who might wish to bid on chance to golf-with-a-shotgun with lawmakers, also have been given this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Today, Common Cause of Minnesota picked up on the invitation (though not Bluestem's post) on its own blog in the post GOP Auctions Off Legislators to Lobbyists:
The Carver County Republican Party is auctioning off the opportunity to “get up close and personal” with Members of Congress and state legislators in a fundraising letter sent to Minnesota lobbyists. This political fundraiser confirms what many Minnesotans have felt for years: our legislators are being auctioned off to the highest bidder. The invitation asks lobbyists to bid on this exclusive opportunity to spend time with Congressman Kline, Congressman Paulsen, State Senator Ortman, State Representative Leidiger, State Representative Hoppe, State Representative Stensrud and Speaker of the Minnesota House Zellers.
“It’s time we had the best leaders money can’t buy,” said Mike Dean, Executive Director of Common Cause Minnesota. “What’s most disturbing is that Minnesota law allows for legislators to auction themselves off to the highest bidder. We need to clean up our elections, and do it now.”
While Minnesota law does not explicitly forbid this type of political fundraising, it does cross a line on what is acceptable behavior for some of the most powerful members of the Minnesota legislature and U.S. Congress. Auctioning off the Speaker of the House, the chair of the Senate Tax Committee, chair of the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform committee, the Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Education and Workforce Committee gives lobbyists access to directly influence policy.
However, follow that link as of now, and you'll get this text:
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ReadySetAuction builds web-based software to help non-profit organizations plan, manage, and conduct successful live and online fundraising auctions. Learn more on our website.
It is Bluestem's understanding that inquiries are being made. In the meantime, go over and read all of what Common Cause had to say and check out the screenshots of the now vanished auction.
Props to MNObserver for the tip. She's posted about the auction in We've already established what you are. Now we're just haggling over the price.
Images: Paulsen for sale, via Common Cause (above); the invitation graphic (used yesterday by Bluestem).
Bluestem Prairie: Tomorrow's news today!
Posted by: Phoenix Woman | Aug 24, 2011 at 04:51 PM