Companies Having Ball With Florida

The organizers of two unofficial Florida inaugural parties in the nation's capital that will feature appearances by top state politicians are relying on big donations from corporations and lobbyists to help put on their events.

The net proceeds from the soirees - if there are any - are described as going to good causes, such as local American Red Cross chapters in Florida.

However, some government-watchdog groups question the use of corporate and lobbyist money to help pay for such inaugural bashes.

"This is really little more than an extension of the lobbying activities on Capitol Hill and at state capitols," said Craig Holman of Public Citizen. "It's another chance for special interests to curry favor and rub shoulders with federal and state officials."

Holman and others note that this underwriting comes as Barack Obama has said no such corporate or lobbying money would be taken to help pay for the official events surrounding his inauguration Jan. 20 in the nation's capital.

Presidents and their wives usually attend only the official balls. Florida will also share in one of those 10 balls with several other states on the night of the inauguration, in addition to its unofficial state parties.

Rather than accepting donations from lobbyists, corporations and unions, Obama has raised more than $20 million from celebrities and others for the cost of official parties and other inaugural events not covered by public funds - limiting individual contributions to $50,000.

Bringing The Community Together

Although Obama has no say over the unofficial events, the Florida parties are violating at least the spirit of the Obama pledge, critics say.

For instance, Blue Cross Blue Shield is donating $50,000 to an unofficial Jan. 19 "Sunshine and Stars 2009 Florida Inauguration Ball" at the prestigious Corcoran Gallery of Art, a sold-out, black-tie event that organizers hope will feature an appearance by Republican Gov. Charlie Crist.

Other corporate donors to the same event, according to a list voluntarily provided by organizers, include: CSX, Florida Power & Light, Progress Energy Inc., the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Medco, Southern Company, the United Space Alliance and the Florida Association of Realtors.

In all, as many as 600 elected officials, lobbyists and others are expected to schmooze and celebrate at this unofficial gathering. Tickets ranged from $250 to $500, based on a desire to attend the entire reception, dinner, dance and dessert, or just the dance and dessert.

Net proceeds from the ball, if there are any profits, will go toward the two little-known Washington-based organizations, Florida House and the Florida State Society, that are staging the event.

The Florida State Society is one of several nonprofit, nonpartisan "state societies" in Washington, made up past and current elected officials, congressional staffers, federal agency employees, lobbyists and others from Florida working the halls of Congress. Mike Sewell, a lobbyist for Progress Energy, is its current president.

Florida House is a historic, 1891 row house on Capitol Hill near the Capitol. Founded in 1973 by former Florida first lady Rhea Chiles, it serves as a sort of "home base" for Floridians while visiting the nation's capital. It is run as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization by a 70-member Board of Trustees chaired by the current governor.

Bart Hudson, executive director of Florida House, defends the corporate donations that help put on the ball and does not think they are intended to sway politicians' decision-making.

"Maybe I'm naive, but this is simply about bringing the Florida community together and celebrating for one night, in a nonpartisan, nonpolitical way," Hudson said.

He said the idea that corporations may be seeking favors through these donations is "not even in my way of thinking." Rather, Hudson said he thinks they should be regarded in a positive light given the enormity of putting on such a ball so that as many people as possible could attend - calling it "just like the biggest wedding I've ever seen."

"We hope to break even - and even do a little better than that," Hudson said. He said the main aim of Florida House and the Florida State Society is that "we felt like we ought to take the reins of the Florida celebration."

A second unofficial Florida event on the evening of Jan. 20 at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall is expecting to draw 500 attendees.

Celebrating Lawmakers

This $200-a-ticket optional black-tie "Friends of Florida" reception is being billed as a way "to honor the Florida congressional delegation."

It is a latest rendition of an inaugural event originally begun by congressional spouses. Under a bill passed in 2007, federal lawmakers are prevented from attending parties at national conventions in their honor, but that law does not include inaugural-related events.

Topping the list of corporation donations to the reception so far is $25,000 from Lockheed Martin Corp., according to event organizers.

Others contributors include Boeing Co.; Oracle Corp.; Barbara Schmidt; 21st Century Oncology; AT&T; the Gulf Power Foundation; and MWW Group.

Kelly Mills, a spokeswoman for the event's organizers, defended the corporate help in putting on the event.

Mills said the event provides Floridians and their elected federal representatives a venue to gather in the nation's capital while celebrating a new president, and raise up to $250,000 for local Red Cross chapters in Florida.

Holman responds: "Even if a substantial portion of the proceeds are going to charity - that's not what the corporations are giving to. They could just simply give the money to the charity, if that was the case. This is an extension of corporate lobbying."