Two lobbying firms to skip conventions

The patriotic confetti, funny hats and teriyaki chicken skewers will be abundant at this summer’s political conventions, but some lobbying firms are opting not to pay for it.

Longtime D.C. lobbying firms Cassidy & Associates and Van Scoyoc have decided to keep their money and stay home.

{mosads}Citing new ethics rules and a harsher political climate for lobbyists, these two firms, known for lining up federal money and earmarks for their clients, are skipping the Democratic and Republican nominating blowouts altogether this year.

They will not sponsor parties, donate to the host committees of Denver or Minneapolis or pay for any of their employees to attend.

There are several reasons not to go, the lobbyists say. The new ethics rules will shine a bright light on lobbyist-funded soirees, and in an economic downturn, standing out among so many firms and activities at a convention takes a lot of money, which just hasn’t proven to get much bang for its buck over the past few conventions.

Besides, the two candidates vying to be president, Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), are in an arms race over who can be the biggest crusader against lobbyists and special interests. Obama recently upped the ante by announcing he would not take any fundraising donations from registered federal lobbyists (a policy the Democratic National Committee followed with its own ban), and both campaigns have fired several advisers with ties to unsavory special interests.

“The climate this year is really tough,” said Nowlin Waters, a spokesman for Van Scoyoc. “Both of the presumptive nominees have been very critical of the lobbying profession, and the ethics changes make it more difficult this year.”

Gregg Hartley, vice chairman and COO of Cassidy, said the firm significantly downsized its activities during the 2004 conventions and weighed a number of factors before deciding to opt out completely this year.

“Does a presence at the national conventions significantly enhance a client’s legislative agenda?” Hartley said. “Does participation at a convention significantly increase business or business opportunities?”

Hartley also said the new ethics rules and the harsh media scrutiny of lobbyist-sponsored events are all factors in the firm’s decision to bypass the party nominating festivities.

“If you decide to go and spend some money there and you end up being on the front page of The New York Times and getting reamed, you say, ‘Is it really worth it?’ ” he explained.

New ethics rules prohibit lobbyists from throwing parties in honor of a particular lawmaker, such as member of the leadership or powerful chairman. House ethics laws, however, allow events thrown in honor of an entire delegation or caucus.

{mospagebreak}Both firms, however, leave open the option that some of their clients may decide to hold events on their own. For instance, Ocean Spray, a Cassidy client, regularly hosts parties during convention week. And some of the firm’s lobbyists may decide to pay their own way and show up at these client events.

Cassidy and Van Scoyoc’s decision stands out as a break from their  convention-event-throwing histories and from other top firms’ plans.

Patton Boggs, for instance, will be hosting a big party the size of a “fancy-schmancy bar mitzvah” at a posh nightclub or historic venue at each convention, as well as forums for reporters and delegates and private policy briefings for a select group of clients, according to partner Nick Allard.

{mosads}A spokeswoman for the firm said the parties will be “as lavish as they possibly can be” under the new House ethics rules, which organizers are following to a tee. The guest list, appetizers, alcohol and venue are being vetted through the ethics committees in the House and Senate.

“We wouldn’t miss it for the world — we’re going to both,” said Allard. “We’re interested for the diabolical reason that we love politics, and this is the World Series of politics.”

Allard also said the new House ethics rules and hostile climate toward lobbyists this year have not deterred any of the firm’s plans. They will ask some of their clients to help them pay for the parties, the same way they always have.

“We haven’t tightened our belt,” he said. “It will be a fun party, a good party for interested political junkies, party apparatchiks and hopefully some of our elected leaders and anyone else who’s in town. We’re there to be involved and gain some visibility on an occasion that’s historic and fun.”

The party won’t honor any one member of Congress or a group of members, Allard said.  Instead, it will honor everyone who attends.

Patton Boggs has an office in Denver, and one of its partners there, Mike Dino, serves as chief executive of the convention’s Denver Host Committee.

The committee has been hurting financially. It announced Monday that it has fallen nearly $12 million short of the $40.6 million it planned on raising just a little more than two months before the convention is scheduled to begin. It also postponed a media walk-through planned for this week.

Dino and other partners at Patton Boggs are pitching in on fundraising requests to other firms and clients to try to help fill the coffers.

In 2004, Cassidy & Associates, whose clients include Boston University, provided fundraising assistance to the Boston host committee, and four years earlier, a vice president of the firm spoke at an Ocean Spray party honoring Rep. James Walsh (R-N.Y.) in Philadelphia.

Van Scoyoc also has a history of strategically feting key lawmakers. In 1996, the firm teamed up with Southern Pacific Transportation Co., Westinghouse Electric Co. and the American Paper Association to throw a party in San Diego honoring then-Appropriations panel Chairman Bob Livingston (R-La.).

Certainly, attitudes about making a big convention splash have changed at the two firms. In a 2004 article in The Hill, Arthur Mason, executive vice president of Cassidy, called political conventions the “dessert” of an election-year lobbying menu.

“And with the anticipated close presidential election come November, lobbyists will certainly attend both conventions with enthusiasm, focus and emphasis on making sure their clients’ needs are met while there,” he wrote in the piece.