A “bundler” is basically a volunteer fundraiser. Campaign finance restrictions limited how much an individual could give a candidate, and so one way for power-brokers to win the love of politcians is to show up with a ton of $2,500 checks. As you might guess, lobbyists see bundling a worthwhile activity.
Democrats’ 2007 ethics law requires campaigns (in some cases) to disclose which lobbyists are bundling for them. Mitt Romney just released his quarterly lobbyist bundling report. Here are his guys, in descending order of money raised:
Patrick J. Durkin, Barclays: Durkin lobbies on behalf of the British bank, and is also a board member of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, a federal corporate-welfare agency. Durkin raised $187,025.00
Robert T. Grand, Barnes & Thornburg: Grand, who lives in Indianapolis, was a Republican aide in Indiana government and a campaign aide for Indiana Republicans like Dick Lugar. Judging by his lobbying disclosure forms, most of his federal lobbying work involves trying to get federal funding for midwestern municipalities. Grand raised $110,150.
Martin Fiorentino, Fiorentino Group: Fiorentino’s firm doesn’t do too much lobbying on the federal level. Fiorentino raised $78,575.
David Beightol, Dutko Worldwide: Beightol, a former aide to Tommy Thompson, does what appears to be obscure government-contract lobbying for companies I’ve never heard of. He’s pretty active in GOP fundraising. For Romney, he raised $35,260.
Judy Rhines, The Rath Group: Tom Rath is a New Hampshire GOP powerbroker. Judy’s only federal lobbying client is the New Hampshire Hospital Association Coalition. She raised $34,650.
William Mark Simmons, Dutko Group: Simmons’s clients include the Strawberry Water Users Association. He raised $34,000.
