Session is over. Time to shake the money trees!
Three of the four legislative caucuses have fundraisers scheduled for June, just one month after the legislative session ended. Here they are (in order of fundraiser listed):
The DFL House Caucus ($354,022 cash on hand through 12/31/2007). They have a June 4th fundraiser scheduled at Crowne Plaza-Riverfront in St. Paul.
The DFL Senate ($68,860 cash on hand through 12/31/2007). They have a fundraiser scheduled for June 18th at the Four Points Sheraton in Minneapolis.
House Republicans ($514,233 cash on hand through 12/31/2007) haves a fundraiser scheduled for June 24th at the Town and Country Club in St. Paul.
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Senate Republicans ($68,498 cash on hand through 12/31/2007) have no known fundraiser scheduled yet.
Gov. Pawlenty also reportedly had a fundraiser last week at the home of David & Kristy Anne Minkkinen in Eden Prairie. Pawlenty has $375,285 cash on hand through 12/31/2007.
Interesting notes:
Will House Republicans continue their fundraising prominence? Plenty of those in the chattering class suggested House Republicans were losers in the last session since House DFLers delivered on many of their campaign promises. One thing that can help the House GOP is the promise to continue to uphold Gov. Pawlenty's vetoes. They were successful in all but one (remember that pesky transportation issue?).
House DFLers historically rake in the cash in the summer leading up to the election. We'll see if delivering on all of those promises (property tax relief, more money for schools, health care reform and more money for transportation) help House Democrats raise even more money.
The Senate DFL numbers are shockingly low. One insider said it has to do with Sen. Larry Pogemiller's dislike of fundraising. The most powerful caucus in the Legislature has the same cash on hand as the least powerful caucus (Senate GOP). We'll see whether the caucus with the veto proof majority ramps up the efforts this summer.
Does the Senate GOP get a fundraising boost from the hiring of Pat Shortridge, the former Chief of Staff to former Congressman Mark Kennedy? He has plenty of GOP contacts.
Why does all of this matter? Ask the House candidates running in the swing districts who get ground support, campaign lit and phone calling help from the caucuses. The Senate isn't up until 2010 but it's a critical election year since the caucuses that control the Legislature also have a hand in drawing the redistricting maps after the 2010 census.