Show The Herald Journal Logan Utah Sunday January 26 2003 — A9 Politicos still partying with ‘soft money’ donors WASHINGTON ( AP) — Speaker Dennis Hastert and other House Republican leaders are playing host to dozens df big donors at the Super Bowl this weekend as a "“thank you” for their checks to the GOP's House campaign committee It’s an annual event with a new twist: Corporate donors didn't have to give a dime to the National Republican Congressional Committee this year to attend They could “prepay” their 2003 membership in' g NRCC groups last year before a ban on donations by corporations and unions known as soft money took effect Donors who gave the NRCC $15000 or more in recent months during the 2002 election cycle said the committee collected prepayment last year for continued membership in various donor tiers in 2003 and spent all the soft money by the end of last year as required under the new law The prepayments brought in anywhere from $1 million to $10 million for the NRCC’s 2002 election effort said Davis R-The GOP added to its House majority in the election “We tried to do everything we could to get as much soft money'in the door as we could” Davis said “The Democrats did the same could attend the Sunday game in San Diego with House GOP leaders Those include lobbyists whose panics gave more to the NRCC than usual before the new campaign ban took Finance law’s effect Nov 6 the day after the elecsoft-mon- ey tion Functions like the NRCC’s Super Bowl bash and Democratic and GOP weekend retreats with lawmakers are usually considered “donor maintenance events” rather than fund-raiseDonors do not give specifically to attend such events but are invited because they have already contributed to the party at a certain level Rep! Tom Davis NRCC chairman rs fund-raisin- thing” The NRCC would have done it to some extent even without the new law because it had a chance to pick up House seats Davis said The committee didn't solicit any soft money after the Nov 5 election and no corporate sponsors provided free airfare food tickets or accom- modations to it for the Super Bowl event said Davis who isn’t attending this year The Deihocratic National Committee also plans to remember last year's bigger-lhan- usual givers at upcoming donor maintenance events “What we told our donors was that' we need as much of a commitment as we possibly can (get) now because obviously we won’t be able' to receive that type of commitment in a post-CF- R (campaign finance soft-mon- world” DNC spokesman " Guillermo Meneses said fund-raMuch of the ing was aimed at improving the DNC’s direct-ma- il operation computer systems and other infrastructure so it can raise more of the limited “hard money” contributions it can still collect from individuals and political action committees reform) soft-mon- ey is under the new law he said “Are we going to remember those people that really went out and reall exceeded their commitment iA 2002 ey Absolutely” Meneses pre-CF- said “They’ll have access when there is a cocktail reception when there’s a photo op when there's a summit when there's a forum” OUR INDOOR CLIMB GYM fo recive one fp£E Exp Feb 7 2003 Bring this ad -- ' f 1 ‘ ' ''iP"y ' - Aw'- - pass! s? ' V v£ day i Your Choice v if-j- NIKE "XCCELERATOR" shoe For men: in sizes 1 2M and 1 2W graphiteyellow and in navywhite in sizes 2 13M For r 'i V Lightweight running 8-- 8-- 8-1- 1M women: graphiteblue in sizes and 1 0W and in chambraywhite in sizes 1 0M and 672-- 1 0W 6-1- f x " - 'v f " ' : “' j i Jr j piv $ 1 u 'v i Rccbok i l H 7-- 6-- Comfort Premiere® Dillard's exclusive! A superior walking shoe with “Dynamic Cushioning Plus” technology that moves air closer to your foot for extra comfort and support Also features a durable leather in the upper and forefoot for added flexibility NIKE9 "CROSS TRAINER OASSIC" For men: whitenavy in sizes 1 21 3M For women: whitegrey in and 8-- sizes 6-- 1 OM and 67-IO- flex-groov- es W For Women 1 White in sizes and 1 0W 514-10- ( 1M 6-- N For Men White and black in sizes' 1 5M and 1 2W 15M in white only 8-- 9 aras NIKE9 "WALKER PRIME" whitegrey In men’s sizes and 1 2W In women's sizes and 672-- 1 0W 8-- In 8-- 1 2M 8-- y 10-- 9 and Shop Sunday 12-- 6 at all Dillard'a location at Faahiofi Place and South Town Canter in Ogden at Newgate Mad In Ptwo at Provo Town Contra Mqnday-Saturda- In Logan at Cache V allay Mad In Salt Laka City In St George at Rad Cllffa Wa welcome your Dillard'a Credit Card The American Expresa Card Diners Club International Mastercard? visa" and The Discover Card Mall |