Here’s the invite to state Senate Democrats’ first annual “Spring Issues Gala” that is being headlined by former President Bill Clinton.

160

The event is scheduled to take place in Manhattan Thursday, which, as City Hall noted this morning, conflicts with a high-dollar DCCC event headlined by President Obama at the St. Regis for which tickets are running from $15,000 a person to $50,000 a couple.

(Obama will be coming to NYC from Buffalo, where he is making just one stop – not open to the public – at a metal fabrication plant where he will discuss the economy and jobs as part of his ongoing Main Street tour).

Tickets for the Senate Dems’ event are decidedly more affordable (relatively speaking, anyway), starting at a mere $1,000. DSCC spokesman Eric Blakenbaker told City Hall’s David Freedlander the timing conflict between the two events is a mere coincidence and that Clinton only recently confirmed his attendance.

“I guess you could say people will have to make a choice,” Blakenbaker said. “But President Clinton is one of our most respected presidents, and that he is coming to our event speaks to how important it is for Democrats to retain the majority in the State Senate.”

(There’s a few Clinton administration connections at the DSCC; Josh Cherwin, the executive director, worked for former VP Al Gore, and Paul Rivera, who is with the Senate Dems on the government side, did as well).

Bill Clinton is also helping some others – including both Rep. Tim Bishop and his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – raise money this cycle.

The Senate Dems took some heat for this event, which appears to mix politics and policy.

This comes on the heels of a dust-up over the DSCC’s new fundraising “councils” for which LGBT, business and labor donors were asked to fork over between $25,000 and $50,000 to have exclusive access and input to the majority as its members shape their agenda.

Senate Deputy Majority Leader Jeff Klein insisted during a recent “Capital Tonight” interview that this isn’t pay-to-play and attendees would merely be discussing “political strategy,” but the title of the conference – “issues” – undercuts that argument.

Share|