Last Thursday, Louisiana Alive Inc. hosted its annual Washington Mardi Gras event at the Washington Hilton, bringing some 2,000 Louisianians to the city for celebrating, and a bit of business. The evening, accompanied by a black-tie dinner on Friday and a Saturday ball, has traditionally provided a chance for lobbyists to reach politicians in a festive manner, but with new ethics laws restricting meals to passed hors d'oeuvres and limiting gifts (such as tickets to extravagant galas), organizers had to alter the event’s format.
According to The Times-Picayune, sponsors have previously paid $7,500 for promotional booths at the event and 40 tickets each, reserved for Capitol Hill staffers. This year Louisiana Alive Inc., which is run by lobbyist and Potomac Group president and founder G. Wayne Smith, doled out the tickets separately to the appropriate political figures. It was a way around the new rules, without disturbing the festivities.Politico's Shenanigans blog said the event included the Storyville Stompers Brass Band from New Orleans, hanging acrobats, Cajun-fried catfish, face painting, and a “who’s who of powerhouse lobbyists" set up at the booths, representing major players such as Lockheed Martin, Chevron, and Dow Chemical. Politico’s favorite booth was from Shell, which offered Mardi Gras-appropriate red feather boas, flecked with gold, to passing revelers.
According to The Times-Picayune, sponsors have previously paid $7,500 for promotional booths at the event and 40 tickets each, reserved for Capitol Hill staffers. This year Louisiana Alive Inc., which is run by lobbyist and Potomac Group president and founder G. Wayne Smith, doled out the tickets separately to the appropriate political figures. It was a way around the new rules, without disturbing the festivities.Politico's Shenanigans blog said the event included the Storyville Stompers Brass Band from New Orleans, hanging acrobats, Cajun-fried catfish, face painting, and a “who’s who of powerhouse lobbyists" set up at the booths, representing major players such as Lockheed Martin, Chevron, and Dow Chemical. Politico’s favorite booth was from Shell, which offered Mardi Gras-appropriate red feather boas, flecked with gold, to passing revelers.
