Congressman Joe Sestak is holding a "business procurement summit" at Springfield Country Club later this month and he is asking participants, which includes companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, etc. and non-profits like SEPTA, plus individuals to help defray the costs of the affair.

The odd thing is he is asking participants to make checks - from $40 for individuals to $300 for businesses - out to "Congressman Joe Sestak."

That seems a bit strange.

A reader pointed this out to me and I told him I'd check it out. I just called Sestak's office. Now, someone there is checking it out and is supposed to call me back with an explanation.

We'll let you know what it is when he does.

UPDATE: This just in...

Gil, in response to your question:

In accordance with the House of Representatives Committee on Standards
of Official Conduct, and consistent with House Rule 24, a Congressional
Office can charge a registration fee to attendees at an event it is
sponsoring. The registration fee must be calculated to cover approved
costs and the member should establish a temporary, non-interest bearing
account to hold the fees collected until the bill is paid. The rules
prohibit checks being made out to third parties, and all checks are, by
the rules, to be made out to the Congress Member hosting the event, per
standard, required practice. Our procedures are conducted in strict
compliance with the House Ethics Manual.

In addition, Congressman Sestak's office reviewed all the procedures for
this event with the Committee and received their approval for the
process and procedures that were to be followed.

Hope this helps. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Yours,

Joe Langdon