Who is paying for the Political Party Conventions and what do they get for it?

How much cash will it take to put on the biggest political bashes of the season – the Democratic Party Convention in Denver this August and the Republican Party Convention in Minneapolis this September?

Private donations (overwhelming from corporations) are expected to exceed $112 million, which should cover 80% of the convention costs according to a new study released today by the Center for Responsive Politics and the Campaign Finance Institute.

Unlike direct campaign contributions, contributions to the political party conventions are unlimited and come directly from corporate treasuries.  The report also shows that these same corporate sponsors "have been heavily engaged in the struggle for federal political influence since the last Presidential election.â€ 

These organizations have responded to solicitations from partisan elected officials and fundraisers dispatched by the host committees. These solicitors have dangled promises of access to grateful federal elected officials.

Among other industries listed as donors, mining and electric utility interests were included in the list of convention sponsors.  Peabody Mining, Arch Coal, and Newmont Mining are all sponsors of the Democratic Party Convention in Denver. Edison Electric Institute, Southern Co, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Xcel Energy, and Great River Energy are all electric utility organizations sponsoring one or both party conventions.

To view the complete report and listing of convention sponsors and also how much money they have spent on lobbying federal officials over the past three years, visit the Campaign Finance Institute website.