Senate Republicans and high GOP donors nonetheless plan to attend a serious fundraiser at a coastal resort in Georgia this weekend regardless of the government shutdown, a transfer that places an ungainly highlight on the underbelly of political campaigns as federal workers are being furloughed throughout the nation.
With Congress at a stalemate over funding the federal government, lawmakers acknowledge the uncomfortable optics of rubbing elbows with well-heeled donors desirous to get entry to the nation’s key determination makers.
But some GOP and Democratic occasions are on — for now.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee knowledgeable attendees in an electronic mail this week that the occasion in Sea Island, Georgia, was non-refundable and contracted years upfront — lengthy earlier than the present group’s management, in keeping with two individuals conversant in the matter.
“Both our cost and attendees’ rooms are nonrefundable,” the e-mail learn, in keeping with a kind of individuals.
The occasion on the luxurious Sea Island resort is without doubt one of the Senate GOP’s greatest fundraisers of the yr. The occasion begins with a dinner Friday night and features a Saturday afternoon of “golf, pickleball, fishing and shooting,” earlier than concluding Sunday morning, in keeping with an itinerary obtained by NCS. It prices at the very least $15,000 to attend.
Senate Republicans aren’t the one ones with a serious fundraiser that’s colliding with the shutdown. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is slated to carry a serious fundraiser in Napa, California, later this month, beginning on October 13. One of the featured attendees, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, has already knowledgeable organizers that she received’t be attending if there’s a shutdown, in keeping with an individual conversant in the planning.
A spokesperson for the Senate Democratic group stated they didn’t have data about whether or not the occasion was nonetheless on.
The Senate plans to depart Washington on Friday, after taking a fourth vote on the GOP’s plan to fund the federal government at present ranges by late November. Senate Democrats have repeatedly blocked that plan as a result of it doesn’t embrace their separate calls for to resume enhanced Obamacare subsidies that can expire at yr’s finish — and so they’re anticipated to filibuster the GOP plan once more on Friday.
Thune instructed reporters Thursday that it’s “unlikely” the Senate will vote on Saturday. He stated Democrats would have a fourth likelihood to vote on the funding invoice on Friday after which: “If that fails, then they can have the weekend to think about it, we’ll come back, we’ll vote again on Monday.”
Asked about this weekend’s occasion, the National Republican Senatorial Committee as an alternative slammed Senate Democrats, together with Sen. Jon Ossoff, the celebration’s most weak incumbent who’s operating for a second time period in Georgia subsequent yr.
“Friday will be yet another opportunity for Democrats to join Republicans to do the right thing and reopen the government,” NRSC spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez stated in a press release to NCS when requested about the fundraiser. Politico first reported the main points of the fundraisers.
House GOP leaders, nonetheless, inspired their Senate counterparts to stay in Washington to vote. Asked by reporters Thursday whether or not the Senate ought to keep on the town this weekend, Speaker Mike Johnson responded: “Of course they do.”
The House has been on recess this week however will reconvene on Tuesday.