"For some public watchdog critics, the buzz of lavish parties surrounding the Democratic National Convention have provided perhaps the most garish reminder since the enactment of the 2002 campaign finance law that money still talks in politics.

That law (PL 107-155) set hard limits on donations to the national political parties. And congressional rules set an annual limit of $100 on the aggregate amount of presents, free meals, drinks and entertainment that a lawmaker may accept from a third party.

But the campaign finance law does not restrict independent events held by companies for lawmakers where no donations are solicited. And the congressional limit on gifts to law makers contains an important exception: It does not cover events attended by large groups of people, as opposed to a one-on-one meal with a lawmaker, for example.

'The rules need to be changed,' said Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21, a nonprofit watchdog group. 'A lawmaker gets to be king or queen for a day. It's especially had when a group holds an event for a chairman or a ranking member of a committee that controls their legislative agenda. There is no reason to have this exception in the rules, except that lawmakers want to have a big time.'

Wertheimer and Gary Buskin, executive director of the Congressional Accountability Project, another watchdog group, are both calling for changes in House and Senate ethics rules.

'Buying influence is what these conventions are all about now. The outcome of the nomination process is already known well in advance,' Ruskin said. His group is affiliated with Ralph Nader, the independent presidential candidate. In a July 25 op-ed piece in The Boston Globe, Nader attacked the 'endless corporate schmoozing' by Democrats and said it has impaired their oversight of industry in Washington.

'Don't hold your breath waiting for the Democrats to put people, not corporations, first,' Nader wrote.

But lawmakers defended their business-backed perquisites.

'Look. This comes up every four years. Companies are spending this money For both political parties. I don't see what's unfair about it,' Senate Minority Whip Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Wednesday just outside the Cheers bar and restaurant in Boston. he had just attended a breakfast in his honor sponsored by AT&T Corp.

Reid, the vice chairman of the Select Ethics Committee, said he would oppose changing rules to limit funding for independent events fumed at lawmakers.

'Fred Wertheimer should lighten up. We're just eating bacon and eggs,' said forrner Rep. Steve Bartlett, R-Texas (1983-91), president of the Financial Services Roundtable.

More Than Bacon and Eggs

But anyone hitting the party scene knows that a lot more than just bacon and eggs are being served up at the heavily staffed events in swank venues around town. Corporate America reserved space in the city's posh bistros and nightclubs to throw lavish dinners, lunches, receptions and late-night parties honoring senior lawmakers and key factions in both chambers.

The top-shelf booze is flowing freely day and night, while waiters and waitresses float about the rooms constantly with meticulously prepared trays of skewered meats, finger food and desserts.

The American Gas Association says it will spend $700,000 on independent events for lawmakers at both conventions this year, including a party it threw earlier this week for the Hispanic Caucus with entertainment provided by the rock band Los Lobos.

The Financial Services Roundtable held a breakfast for Barney Frank of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee. He's backing a bill (HR 1375) that would relax restrictions on national banks that want to expand operations into new states.

BellSouth hosted a cruise for John B. Breaux, D-La., who is pushing to loosen restrictions on the Baby Bells that were implemented in the 1996 telecommunications law (PL 104-104).

Media outlets, including Congressional Quarterly, who also cherish access to public officials and business lobbyists, underwrote ritzy events as well to raise their profile.

Four years ago, Mark Foley, R-Fla., scored a coup for the GOP when he persuaded the Recording Industry Association of America and the Motion Picture Association to host an event for the House GOP Entertainment Caucus. Now, Foley say's he would like to host another Hollywood-backed bash, but he says he is concerned watchdog groups could spur ethics coinplaints and demands for inquiries by the Federal Election Commission into whether the 2002 campaign finance law was being violated.

'I'm not sure corporations are allowed to sponsor these parties anymore. So we're not doing anything this year,' Foley said.

But Foley was speaking only for the Entertainment Caucus and whether it would try to hook up with corporate interests to throw a party at the GOP convention in New York. Republican convention attendees can rest assured the parties in New York will be every bit as plentiful and lavish as those in Boston.

And that corporate America will continue to pick up a big chunk of the tab." (Alan K. Ota, Congressional Quarterly/Today at the Convention, July 29, 2004)