You have to pay to play... FYI
freindlyfired
Posts: 297
If you want a friend and VIP access in Denver for the Democratic National Convention, a $1 million donation will do just fine. And when you come to St. Paul for the Republican National Convention, it'll cost you $5 million. If you want to play, you've got to pay.
The conventions together are expected to cost more than a quarter billion dollars. Eighty percent of that money raised was by the local host committees, which are considered "charities" by the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Elections Commission.
Taxpayers are paying extra for security in both cities.
Taxpayers are paying extra for security in both cities.
Taxpayers are paying extra for security in both cities.
Buried in a bill to fund the Iraq war last year, Congress inserted $100 million --$50 million for each city, Denver and St. Paul, for what it says is for "policing" the two conventions.
The political parties’ parties will be financed by some of the nation’s largest corporations. From AT&T to Xcel Energy, companies will pay over $112 million in exchange for access to the nation’s most powerful politicians. Roughly $55 million in private financing is being provided to support the Democratic convention in Denver, and $57 million for the Republican convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul. These donors provided another $100 million to federal candidates and parties since 2005 and spent a total of $721.3 million lobbying the federal government during the same period. During the 2008 conventions they will put on public display examples of how to buy influence and access. Minnesota’s Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty asked corporations to give generously for the chance to “connect with influential government officials (cabinet, president, and next president).” Colorado Democrats also are offering donors invitations to private events attended by prominent politicians.
The corporations, trade groups, lobbyists and unions are sponsoring hundreds of invitation-only affairs that include cruises, concerts, trapshooting and golf tournaments and even glow-in-the-dark bowling. Major contributors include: $6 million donor, Qwest Communications; and million-dollar-level contributors Level 3 Communications, Molson Coors, Xcel Energy, US Bancorp, UnitedHealth, and Union Pacific.
AFLAC, the for-profit health insurance company, is a donor to both conventions. The corporation spent $12.6 million over the last four years lobbying Congress and the White House on issues such as pressuring Japan to loosen restrictions on its health insurance market and fighting regulation of prescription drug prices. Anheuser-Busch also supports both conventions. The brewing behemoth provided $2.6 million in campaign contributions during the last two election cycles and spent $10.4 million on lobbying efforts. Among Bud’s peoples’ areas of interest are loosening international trade regulations and fighting restrictions on alcohol advertising.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul 2008 Host Committee’s donations range from $6 million from telecom giant Qwest to $50,000 from Kraft Foods. New York Jets owner Robert W. “Woody” Johnson IV raised funds for the convention and more than $500,000 for McCain. Minnesota-based companies contributing to the Republican convention include 3M, Best Buy, Cargill, General Mills, Hubbard Broadcasting, Northwest Airlines, St. Jude Medical, SuperValue, Travelers, United Health Group, US Bank and Xcel Energy.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, American Federation of Teachers and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees gave over a million dollars to the Democratic convention. Among the parties the Denver Host Committee has scheduled include events by Coca-Cola, Xcel, Amgen, JP Morgan, Solar Energy Industries Association, American Wind Energy Association, Wind Energy Institute, Service Employees International Union, Target, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, CH2MHill and Qwest.
Major event venues are Denver’s Art Museum, Invesco Field, and Coors Field. The Denver Art Museum is booked for many private events. CH2MHill will host a private opening event at Invesco Field focused on sustainability. The Solar Energy Industries Association and Molson Coors will host an event at Coors Field called “Sunfest.” On Aug. 25, Mayor John Hickenlooper co-hosts a party with the Wind Energy Industry group at the Wynkoop Brewing Co. The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 event at the Colorado History Museum will include a panel on immigration issues and premier a documentary about immigration raids at the Swift & Co. meatpacking plant.
People sitting at home have a role to play, too; each convention is being subsidized with $16.4 million in taxpayer dollars, money that comes from a voluntary check off on individual income tax returns.
The conventions together are expected to cost more than a quarter billion dollars. Eighty percent of that money raised was by the local host committees, which are considered "charities" by the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Elections Commission.
Taxpayers are paying extra for security in both cities.
Taxpayers are paying extra for security in both cities.
Taxpayers are paying extra for security in both cities.
Buried in a bill to fund the Iraq war last year, Congress inserted $100 million --$50 million for each city, Denver and St. Paul, for what it says is for "policing" the two conventions.
The political parties’ parties will be financed by some of the nation’s largest corporations. From AT&T to Xcel Energy, companies will pay over $112 million in exchange for access to the nation’s most powerful politicians. Roughly $55 million in private financing is being provided to support the Democratic convention in Denver, and $57 million for the Republican convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul. These donors provided another $100 million to federal candidates and parties since 2005 and spent a total of $721.3 million lobbying the federal government during the same period. During the 2008 conventions they will put on public display examples of how to buy influence and access. Minnesota’s Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty asked corporations to give generously for the chance to “connect with influential government officials (cabinet, president, and next president).” Colorado Democrats also are offering donors invitations to private events attended by prominent politicians.
The corporations, trade groups, lobbyists and unions are sponsoring hundreds of invitation-only affairs that include cruises, concerts, trapshooting and golf tournaments and even glow-in-the-dark bowling. Major contributors include: $6 million donor, Qwest Communications; and million-dollar-level contributors Level 3 Communications, Molson Coors, Xcel Energy, US Bancorp, UnitedHealth, and Union Pacific.
AFLAC, the for-profit health insurance company, is a donor to both conventions. The corporation spent $12.6 million over the last four years lobbying Congress and the White House on issues such as pressuring Japan to loosen restrictions on its health insurance market and fighting regulation of prescription drug prices. Anheuser-Busch also supports both conventions. The brewing behemoth provided $2.6 million in campaign contributions during the last two election cycles and spent $10.4 million on lobbying efforts. Among Bud’s peoples’ areas of interest are loosening international trade regulations and fighting restrictions on alcohol advertising.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul 2008 Host Committee’s donations range from $6 million from telecom giant Qwest to $50,000 from Kraft Foods. New York Jets owner Robert W. “Woody” Johnson IV raised funds for the convention and more than $500,000 for McCain. Minnesota-based companies contributing to the Republican convention include 3M, Best Buy, Cargill, General Mills, Hubbard Broadcasting, Northwest Airlines, St. Jude Medical, SuperValue, Travelers, United Health Group, US Bank and Xcel Energy.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, American Federation of Teachers and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees gave over a million dollars to the Democratic convention. Among the parties the Denver Host Committee has scheduled include events by Coca-Cola, Xcel, Amgen, JP Morgan, Solar Energy Industries Association, American Wind Energy Association, Wind Energy Institute, Service Employees International Union, Target, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, CH2MHill and Qwest.
Major event venues are Denver’s Art Museum, Invesco Field, and Coors Field. The Denver Art Museum is booked for many private events. CH2MHill will host a private opening event at Invesco Field focused on sustainability. The Solar Energy Industries Association and Molson Coors will host an event at Coors Field called “Sunfest.” On Aug. 25, Mayor John Hickenlooper co-hosts a party with the Wind Energy Industry group at the Wynkoop Brewing Co. The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 event at the Colorado History Museum will include a panel on immigration issues and premier a documentary about immigration raids at the Swift & Co. meatpacking plant.
People sitting at home have a role to play, too; each convention is being subsidized with $16.4 million in taxpayer dollars, money that comes from a voluntary check off on individual income tax returns.
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