Business partying with a purpose: Wine, dine and lobby

By James Paton, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 26, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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The Poker Players Alliance, with help from stars Ben Affleck and Sarah Silverman, is hosting a bash at Coors Field to raise money for paralyzed veterans.

But tonight's party, which will attract lawmakers and others, has another purpose. The Poker Players Alliance is a lobbying group that opposes a ban on Internet gambling but favors regulation.

"The federal government has taken a prohibition stance in trying to deny the rights of adults to play poker online," said John Pappas, executive director of the alliance, which spent more than $1 million lobbying in the first half of the year.

Dozens of corporations and trade organizations such as the Poker Players Alliance hope to use soirees and receptions during the Democratic National Convention this week to greet key lawmakers and remind them of the issues they care about.

This year, the parties will go on within the limits of tougher federal ethics rules.

The Distilled Spirits Council, featuring the band DeVotchKa and serving up scotch and bourbon, scheduled a party Monday night, partly to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the repeal of prohibition and partly to tackle the issue of underage drinking.

The trade association, whose clients include Bacardi and Diageo, also is rallying against bans on Sunday liquor sales in a number of states - stores in Colorado may now sell booze on Sundays - while weighing in on measures to lower tax rates.

The American Wind Energy Association, with special guest Mayor John Hickenlooper, took over the Wynkoop Brewery on Monday evening and has set up a 130-foot wind turbine near the Colorado Convention Center to grab the attention of policy makers. The reception featured "Mayor John's Windpower Wheat" beer.

Smaller lobbying organizations do not have their own events but try to tell their stories at other functions. The American Occupational Therapy Association is seeking more of a voice in the health care debate and touting an effort to give lawmakers "tips about surviving handshaking on the campaign trail."

They note that John McCain's wife was recently treated for a minor sprain after someone at an event in Michigan shook her hand too firmly.

In the corporate world, AT&T is hosting a number of events. Real estate company Forest City, the developer of Stapleton, is holding breakfast receptions for several delegations. Qwest has four private events on tap. The guest list includes members of delegations from 14 mostly Western states. Qwest spokeswoman Jennifer Barton characterized the receptions as a chance to "develop relationships," not to lobby.

Trade group and corporation representatives chat with legislators all the time but being seen at the convention is critical.

"Why are they willing to spend the money?" asked state Rep. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, who has been invited to hundreds of DNC functions. "Because it's meant to help their reputation or give people a favorable impression of a product or an issue, not because they have extra cash they are trying to get rid of."

patonj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2544

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