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  • The Week on the Hill

National Journal looks ahead at what to expect at the conventions.

At previous GOP conventions, the Republican Governors Association roped in close to a million dollars from business trade groups and companies that sponsored events where lobbyists and executives enjoyed face-to-face contact with top state elected officials.

But this summer in St. Paul, the RGA is taking partying to a new level: Corporations and trade groups that sign up for the most expensive sponsorship of $250,000 will receive convention goodies that include blocks of hotel rooms, access to a VIP hospitality suite, and multiple tickets to a concert and a governors' luncheon. Even less expensive sponsorships (from $30,000 to $125,000) come with perks courtesy of the RGA--ranging from an afternoon concert featuring country music star Chet Walker and a band with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to seats in the RGA's skybox at the Xcel Energy Center on the last night of the convention.

Among this year's sponsors are energy-industry powerhouses such as the American Gas Association, the American Petroleum Institute, the Edison Electric Institute, the National Mining Association, and the Nuclear Energy Institute. "Conventions present us with a unique opportunity to raise our profile and advocate on issues that are important to our industry," says Rick Shelby, an executive vice president with the American Gas Association.

Officials with the governors group say that convention fundraising and sponsorships this year are exceeding those of previous years. "There's definitely an increased interest in our programs," says RGA spokesman Chris Schrimpf. He says his association will use some of the income from sponsorships to help elect Republicans in the fall.

The funds flowing to the RGA from the convention underscore the importance that many companies, trade groups, and lobby shops attach to being a conspicuous presence at the political conventions--whether by staging events themselves or sponsoring them through other organizations.

New congressional ethics rules curb, among other things, the long-standing practice of feting individual members of Congress at the conventions. Still, many businesses and groups are planning lavish events at the GOP convention (as well as in Denver at the Democratic convention) to showcase their priorities.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul host committee has reached its initial goal of raising $39 million, but it is still seeking another $19 million (for a total of $58 million). Among the host committee's biggest supporters are Qwest Communications, which has donated $6 million, and United Health Care, which has contributed $1.5 million.

Many companies, trade groups, lobby shops, and GOP committees at the federal and state levels are plotting their own activities. Bill Miller, political director at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, says that the convention offers the chamber an opportunity to talk about its agenda to "many influential people," some of whom "will be setting economic policy [beginning in] January 2009."

The chamber is teaming up with the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, and Mercedes-Benz to sponsor evening parties, including a party on the evening of September 1 at Solera, a popular restaurant and club in Minneapolis. Miller says the chamber has also chartered a boat for events on the Mississippi River.

Lobbying giant Patton Boggs will be hosting its own late night party at the opulent Landmark Center after the convention ends on September 4 to honor those who worked at the convention.

And the Republican State Leadership Committee, which includes state attorneys general and state legislators, has slated daily events--partly underwritten by some of the same energy trade groups that are backing the Republican Governors Association programs. Says committee President Scott Ward: "There's certainly visibility at the convention for people to see what the RSLC is and hopefully join us."