Romney Fundraiser Hosts Included Koch Lobbyist, but Now He's Out

Original Link: http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_13/koch_lobbyist_host_romney_fundraiser-207653-1.html

By Kate Ackley

Patton Boggs, D.C.’s largest lobbying firm, and a lobbyist for Koch Industries are playing host Tuesday to a luncheon fundraiser for GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney.
The firm’s Trent Lott and Ben Ginsberg, who served as national counsel to the Bush-Cheney presidential campaign, are among the K Street power players who are hosting the $1,000-a-person event.

Ginsberg referred comment about the event to the Romney campaign, which did not respond to an inquiry by press time.

Other lobbyists on the host committee include Andrew Siff of Siff & Associates, whose clients include Koch Companies Public Sector LLC, the Sergeants Benevolent Association of New York City and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, according to lobby disclosures filed with Congress.

Lott’s K Street clientele includes AT&T, Citigroup and Shell Oil.

The luncheon, according to an invite, is part of a “Lawyers for Romney” event and begins at 11:45 a.m. The host committee members are responsible for raising $5,000.

Since this item was first published, a Romney campaign spokeswoman said that Siff did not even attend the event. The spokeswoman sent an updated invitation with Siff's name deleted from the host committee. Several names not appearing on the original invitation viewed by Roll Call had been added to the host committee, including Bradley Bondi, Deborah Garza, Tom Haynes, Bill Kilberg and Dick Wiley.

Democrats on Tuesday morning used this item to tweak Romney for Siff's involvement, sending it to other reporters and highlighting the Koch tie. Huffington Post reported Tuesday that Siff was forced out at the last minute.