HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) \u2014 No state budget means no money for schools and counties, but campaign cash is flowing in Harrisburg. There were 38 fundraisers in the city on just the first three days of this week.<\/p>\n
A 7:30 a.m. breakfast in support of State Rep. Zach Mako (R-Lehigh\/Northampton) kicked off a day full of fundraisers. A lunch at Stocks for State Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Alleghany) recommended a $1,000 to $10,000 contribution.<\/p>\n
Close<\/a><\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Watch for us in your inbox.<\/p>\n Subscribe Now<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s, you know, raising money is a fact of life in this business,\u201d Frankel said. \u201cAnd when I figure out how I schedule my year, I plan these things months in advance.\u201d<\/p>\n He couldn\u2019t have known then there\u2019d be a budget impasse now. Neither could Senate GOP Leader Joe Pittman, who had the last of 18 fundraisers on Tuesday seeking $1,000 to $10,000 this week.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got one Wednesday,\u201d said State Sen. Greg Rothman (R), who also chairs the Pennsylvania Republican Party. \u201cThere\u2019s still room. There\u2019s still room.\u201d<\/p>\n His event is $500 to $25,000, and a who\u2019s who of Republican powerbrokers will attend.<\/p>\n Rothman admits the optics aren\u2019t great with no budget \u2014 lawmakers should\u2019ve had one completed on June 30, more than 100 days ago.<\/p>\n A number of lobbyists told abc27 News\u2019 Dennis Owens they\u2019re frustrated with writing checks to lots of lawmakers and not getting any results. Of course, they wouldn\u2019t say that on camera.<\/p>\n State Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) is not seeking reelection. He suggested lobbyists should respectfully decline fundraising invitations if there\u2019s not a budget.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe the lesson there is maybe don\u2019t show until it\u2019s done,\u201d Grove said. \u201cSqueeze a little.\u201d<\/p>\n Government watchdogs squeeze a whole lot.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, the legislature is getting paid for not doing their job, and while they\u2019re not doing their job, they\u2019re holding fundraisers from themselves,\u201d said Eric Epstein of Rock the Capital, a non-partisan watchdog organization. \u201cCould you be any more disconnected from reality?\u201d<\/p>\n