As Congress Talks Stimulus, Labor Leaders Worry They Won't Have a Voice

In fact, local officials say Denver has only one unionized hotel, a Hyatt at the convention center -- and organized labor is unhappy about the shortage. Stay tuned.

Dinner and a Movie

The capital's most famous party spot for members of Congress is not the Capital Grille or any other restaurant. It's the private, 70-seat theater two blocks from the White House at the headquarters of the Motion Picture Association of America.

When Congress is in session, lawmakers, staffers and other D.C. notables regularly show up there for a free movie, a meal and drinks. The events have served as a way for Hollywood to spread goodwill for decades.

Now, the spoilsports at Public Citizen, the liberal advocacy group, have complained to the House and Senate ethics committees that the events violate the new ethics law, which prohibits lobbyists from giving gifts to lawmakers, and say they want the parties shut down.

"Voters are fed up with lobbyists giving our lawmakers gifts, free dinners, lavish parties and golfing trips -- and Congress finally responded by banning these things," said David Arkush, director of Public Citizen's Congress Watch division. "But that hasn't stopped the motion picture industry from hosting free movie nights for officials and their staffs."

The association says its program complies with the rules: It is a "widely attended" event that also has an informational component -- sometimes a lecture, or a five-minute educational trailer that runs before the feature -- and meets the rules for people who work in Congress.

"The MPAA has worked over the years to ensure that all of our events are in compliance with the applicable government ethics rules, and we are confident that they are," said association spokeswoman Angela Belden Martinez.

The movie lobby plans to fight to keep its institution alive. In the meantime, lawmakers will still be allowed to pass the popcorn or, more important, the lamb chops.

Coincidence?

If anyone ever doubted that money matters in lobbying, the good people at MAPLight.org can put the naysayers to rest.

Last week, the House passed a mine safety bill backed by unions and opposed by mining companies.

According to MAPLight, the unions gave an average of nine times as much to legislators who voted yes on the bill as they did to lawmakers who voted no. The companies gave an average of three times as much to lawmakers who voted no as to those who voted yes.

In other words, "lawmakers' votes aligned closely with campaign dollars," said Dan Newman, MAPLight's executive director.