Posted Sept. 24, 2007 – On Wednesday, more than 20,000 folks will come to Washington to attend the four-day conference “Unleashing Our Power” hosted by Black lawmakers.
The 37th Annual Legislative Weekend will be jumping, from the opening prayer breakfast to evening networking receptions and gatherings around town.  This is also the week Hollywood kicks it with the Capitol Hill crowd.  This year is no different; actors Lou Gossett, Victoria Rowell and Gabriele Union will join music producers Quincy Jones and Russell Simmons,  adding their voices to issues they care about.

There are a couple of big changes in store for regular attendees.  The two biggest differences: Folks attending the conference will be charged a small entrance fee, and lobbyists will not be able to give tickets to their events directly to a member’s office. 

The reason for the admission fee is simple.  Charging folks attending the workshops, town hall meetings and policy pow-wows will allow the foundation to raise money for scholarships, fellowships and internship programs.  But folks close to the planning are worried this change might not be well-received.  

The other change is a direct result of the new ethics laws passed by the Democratic majority this year.  The new law won’t allow lobbyists to give tickets to their events to a member of Congress.  Now tickets from corporate partners will be donated to and distributed by the foundation.  

This new system will make it difficult for members to invite specific guests from their districts.  This is just one of several new obstacles facing lobbyists under new ethics laws.

Delegate Donna M. Christensen (D-V.I.) and Rep. G. K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) are the co-chairs of this year’s Legislative Weekend, and Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.) is the caucus foundation president.

 Meek told BET that he wants folks to get motivated so they’ll get busy when they return home. We’re “not just talking about congressional power; we’re talking about the power of the participants of the conference, unleashing our power back home,” he said.