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Besides nomination a presidential canidate, Republicans will be feted at a dizzying array of parties, fund-raisers and soirees – many thrown by corporations and trade groups with political agendas of their own. A selective list:
Golfing the Internet
Sponsor: AT&T
Burns Golf Gala: A must-do event for the telecommunications crowd, this fund-raiser benefits Sen. Conrad Burns on Montana who chairs a subcommittee that oversees the industry.
The Stakes: AT&T is locked in fierce lobbying battles over the future of the Internet access and efforts by Baby Bells to break into the long-distance market. AT&T gave $1 million to the convention, and its general counsel, James Cicconi, is a top Bush fund-raiser.
Pill Happy
Sponsor: Leading pharmaceutical manufactures
Celebration of Biopharmaceutical Innovation: Reception at Philadelphia’s historic (1812) Academy of Natural Sciences.
The Stakes: In the partisan battle over a new Medicare benefit for prescription drugs, the pharmaceutical industry has lined up with the GOP and against Democratic proposals for lower-cost drugs. Benefit to the GOP for the Y2k election cycle: $7.4 million.
Impress Me
Sponsor: SmithKline Beecham
Afternoon at the Barnes Foundation: Chic party at a private museum on the Main Line that boasts one of the world’s finest collections of impressionism.
The Stakes: Same as the rest of the pharmaceutical industry. SmithKline is a Philadelphia based corporation, and one of its lobbyists in Texas, Andrea McWilliams, is a leading Bush fund-raiser. The Barnes bash was her idea.
Country Roads
Sponsor: General Motors
Buffet Concert: Featuring country star Hank Williams Jr.
The Stakes: This year’s soaring gas prices have GM and other automakers worried about the Fed’s imposing tougher fuel economy standards to light trucks and SUVs. GM is well positioned to argue its case: its top lobbyist, Andrew Card, just happens to be co-chair of the GOP convention.