Caucus Groups Privately Schmooze Lawmakers

[Rose Siding]

AP Enterprise: Caucuses offer lawmakers private way to schmooze at special interest expense
(AP) On a sunny Tuesday, House members who belong to the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus left suits and ties behind, grabbed shotguns and headed for the firing range.

In a Washington equivalent of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," more than a dozen lawmakers took advantage of a light schedule at the Capitol to play hooky.
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The Associated Press surveyed Congress, identifying more than 500 such clubs and their members. Caucus events financed by special interests ranged from golf tournaments to Caribbean trips, AP found.
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Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., has nothing to do with caucuses. He said some lawmakers use them "to cover their tails" and hide their voting records.

"People will vote for a budget resolution that blocks your ability to provide decent funding for health or education, and then join a caucus or write some letter on behalf of a program for some disease," he said.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/17/ap/politics/mainD8IU1B000.shtml