Lobbyists get House GOP face time

By: Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer
Politico.com
January 18, 2012 10:31 PM EST

A $25,000 check to the Congressional Institute.

That’s the entry price for corporate lobbyists to gain access to top Republican lawmakers and their aides at events like the House Republican retreat this weekend at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront.

Lobbyists from mega-corporations like Verizon, UPS, Altria and American Express and trade associations like the Information Technology Industry Council are members of the institute, which plans and partially underwrites a whole menu of events throughout the year — including the annual January retreat.

The calculus is simple for K-Streeters, corporations and trade associations: They’re looking for face time with lawmakers away from the halls of Congress, and they’re willing to pay for it.

It’s a classic access model that has been accepted for years in Washington, but it does seem to cut against the reform-minded ethos of the current Republican majority.

(More here.)