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For Immediate Release June 14, 2005
Contact: Karen Finney- 202-863-8148 DEAN: GOP Serves Special Interests Along with Beef Tenderloin at Tonight's Fundraising Dinner
Washington, DC - Tonight, the Republican Leadership in Washington, DC will celebrate after spending months working to achieve their top priority: raising millions in special interest cash for their own campaign accounts. At the President's Dinner in Washington, a lavish fundraiser for the party's House and Senate campaign committees, GOP leaders will meet with top donors and lobbyists and thank them for their support.
Instead of focusing on issues that affect most American families, like rising gas prices, skyrocketing medical costs and keeping our country safe, Republican leaders have been preoccupied with enhancing their own power and pleasing the elite inside-the-beltway special interests.
"If the Republican Leadership had spent as much time working with Democrats to address the concerns of the American people instead of raising campaign cash, we might have real plans to lower health care costs, balance the budget and create jobs," said DNC Chairman Howard Dean. "The American people deserve elected officials who solve problems, not who abuse their power to enact an agenda that is sold to someone at a multi-million dollar fundraiser."
In order to raise millions for tonight's dinner, the Republicans set "specific goals for each lawmaker, a network of 35 team captains to track the collection process just the way whips check on votes, and strategic leaks of the latest tallies to embarrass recalcitrant members to get on the phone. Party leaders pit the House against the Senate in going after donors, and lawmakers use their tallies as a way to promote themselves for future leadership jobs." Post, 6/14/05]
They also abused their power by continuing their efforts to shake down K Street lobbyists for cash. "Of the House's $14 million, $10 million is expected to come from lawmakers' fundraising and a Washington program aimed at K Street, run by former House members Bill Paxon and his wife, Susan Molinari."
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Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats. org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
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