Defending a 'Wide Stance' Requires a Thick Wallet

They were once known as leadership PACs because only party leaders -- or those aspiring to be leaders -- had PACs. While the election accounts are limited to $4,600 per donor for each two-year election cycle, PACs can take in $10,000 from each contributor over that same time. The money is doled out to other candidates to build goodwill for a candidate's personal ambitions.

At least 231 members of the House have PACs, according to the CREW study. Another 68 lawmakers refused to divulge to the liberal-leaning watchdog whether they had one. There's no official requirement that members disclose their affiliations with the committees.

Many have names that can be turned into easily identifiable acronyms -- think Rely On Your Beliefs Fund, or RoyB Fund, for Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) -- but some PACs are just oddly named, and CREW couldn't be sure they were associated with a lawmaker.

And there's no partisan divide on PACs. At least 112 Democrats and 119 Republicans have them.

Empty Bags

Who doesn't love a good gift bag? They are one of the best reasons to go to the late-night after-parties that follow Saturday's annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, besides chatting up tipsy celebrities and politicians.

But this year, lots of partygoers will be looking the gift horse in the mouth. They have no choice. Gift bags are officially taboo for members of Congress and their staffs who, under strict new ethics rules, cannot take even the smallest item from swag bags.

And as long as the sponsors of the after-parties employ lobbyists, they may not give gift bags to the politicians and congressional aides who, until last year, loved sauntering (or staggering) home with their goody bags.

Bloomberg News, which for years has hosted the hottest ticket on the after-party circuit, is known for giving big, comfy slippers to its weary, late-night revelers, along with latte mugs and other trinkets. For years, many a big-name guest has been spotted hailing a cab, shoes in hand, puffy slippers on feet.

This year, lots of those VIP guests will be going home in the shoes they wore.

Bloomberg, which, like most news organizations (including The Washington Post Co.) employs lobbyists, has nixed the gift bag as too risky. (Corporations actually face criminal penalties if they knowingly give gifts of any value to a member of Congress or his staff.)

"We love gift bags," says Tammy Haddad, a veteran television producer who is a consultant to Bloomberg. "There are thousands of people padding around Washington in Bloomberg after-party slippers. But this year we want to abide by the new ethics law."

From a glance at his latest campaign financial disclosure report, it looks as if Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) has finally hit rock bottom. Because, according to the report, Rehberg, a millionaire who sleeps on the sofa in his congressional office and showers in the House gym, spent a cold February night at the Tune Inn, which, while it offers plenty of cheap draft beer and greasy food, doesn't rent rooms -- not even by the hour.