Pelosi may skip major Chicago fund-raiser because of deficit talks

WASHINGTON–House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi may have to skip her major donor fund-raiser in Chicago on Friday for the House political organization–where tickets range from $2,500 per person to $30,000 a couple–because the on-going deficit negotiations with President Obama at the White House may keep her in Washington.

The event, billed as an “intimate dinner,” also features Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Rep. Sandy Levin (D-Oh.) as well as all eight Illinois House Democrats.

The hosts of the dinner, at Smith and Wollensky at 318 N. State St., are long time Democratic donors and fund-raisers: Tony Romanucci, Balvinder Singh, Kevin Conway, Philip Corboy, Jr., Keith Hebeisen, Joseph Power, Jr., Todd Smith. Some 40 guests are expected to attend.

The Sun-Times Stella Foster first reported Pelosi would be in Chicago Friday for a fund-raiser.

Jennifer Crider, Pelosi’s political director at the DCCC told me Pelosi’s attendance at the Chicago funder–and at other events over the weekend in Minneapolis–“depends on the White House schedule, of course.” When we talked Thursday afternoon, Obama’s Friday schedule had not yet been set. “We are waiting to see what the schedule is and then we will make a decision. Her priority is, of course, the debt talks.

Would the event be postponed or go on without her? “With the (deficit) meetings, we have had to be a little flexible with the scheduling,” Crider said.

If Pelosi makes it to Chicago, she will overnight in the city. If the deficit talks are not scheduled for the weekend, Pelosi will head to Minneapolis on Saturday for a DCCC funder, private meetings and to headline a funder Sunday night for Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.).

Below, DCCC invite….

Please Join

Congressman Sandy Levin

Congressman Luis Gutierrez Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky

Congressman Jerry Costello Congressman Bobby L. Rush

Congressman Danny Davis Congressman Dan Lipinski

Congressman Mike Quigley

And Hosts

Tony Romanucci, Balvinder Singh

Kevin Conway, Philip Corboy, Jr., Keith Hebeisen, Joseph Power, Jr., Todd Smith

For an intimate dinner with

DCCC Chairman

Steve Israel

&

House Democratic Leader

Nancy Pelosi

Friday, July 15, 2011

7:00pm – Dinner

At

Smith and Wollensky

318 North State Street

Chicago, IL

Speaker’s Cabinet ~ $30,800 per couple

Host ~ $10,000 per couple

Friend ~ $5,000 per person

Guest ~ $2,500 per person

To RSVP or for additional information please contact

Chris Carr at (202) 485-3438 or email carr@dccc.org.

Paid for by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

430 South Capitol Street, SE Washington, DC 20003 (202) 863-1500 www.dccc.org

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee

Friday, July 15, 2011~ Chicago, IL

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Friend ~ $5,000 per person

Guest ~ $2,500 per person

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