Though legislators are barred from raising money during the legislative session, Democratic legislators took a break from last night's budget debate to attend a fundraiser at Democratic Party headquarters in Raleigh.
It was an "thank you" event for legislators who are "underpaid and over worked," state party director Andrew Whalen said. A chance for ordinary folks to pay $50 a head (the cheapest event the part hosts all year, he said) to mingle with legislators while they're in town for the session.
But The News & Observer reports that lobbyists were invited to the event.
Shocking, I know.
Funds raised go to the party's bottom line, but nothing in state law bars the party from then donating to legislators. Whalen acknowledged, in a phone call last night, that the money could end up with legislators "in theory." But he said the plan is to use it for day-to-day party operations.
He said between 50 and 100 attendees were expected.
"I don't think it's a loophole at all," Whalen said. "This is not fundraising by the legislators."
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