Good ol’ boys (and girls) club – Congress spent $650,000 at Washington steakhouse

According to the watchdog group opensecrets.org, one of Washington’s most popular fundraising locations is the steakhouse Capital Grille, where members of Congress collectively spent more than $650,000 during the last election cycle. 
Much of that wining-and-dining money, of course, comes straight out of their campaign accounts – in the hopes of getting a big return from those who hand out huge cash contributions. A dozen members spent more than $10,000 apiece.
And the Capital Grille, located just down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol Building, is only the most popular of several upscale D.C. restaurants where the nation’s elite lobbyists rub shoulders and grease palms with members of the House and Senate.

Politico reports this:

McCarty

“It’s no secret that many restaurants in downtown Washington—and particularly those close to the Capitol—are funded not just by big-spending lobbyists but more or less right out of the campaign bank accounts of power-brokering members of Congress. But the sums can still be eye-popping.

Pelosi

“To wit: Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the House Majority leader as of last year, dropped more than $50,000 in the last election cycle at Ruth’s Chris Steak House; Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, the majority whip, spent more than $57,000 at the New Orleans-themed Acadiana; and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi spent $27,000 at the Italian eatery Acqua Al 2 and another $10,000 at the Occidental Grill, according to campaign finance filings.”

In the weird world of Washington, chic restaurants are on a seasonal schedule, marking their calendars for August, when their congressional clientele are out of town.

More from Politico:
“Given the big business stemming from Congress, it’s no surprise, then, that restaurants catering to the power set aim to close in August when recess hits and members (and much of the city) vacate for home districts and fancy fundraisers in Nantucket and the Hamptons.”