"Hot Tub Tom" Delay Plans French Wine and Cuban Cigars Fund Raiser

Dallas News

WASHINGTON – Setting aside his troubles for a few hours, Majority Leader Tom DeLay plans a high-dollar "wine and cigar" fundraiser Wednesday night for his political action committee.

The reception at an office a few blocks from the Capitol is Americans for a Republican Majority's first event since a dinner about two months ago. Ticket prices run from $1,000 per person to $5,000 for a sponsor.

It was unclear who is on the invitation list or how much money Mr. DeLay hopes to raise. A spokesman in his congressional office declined to comment, referring calls to ARMPAC. The committee's director, Jim Ellis, did not respond to requests to discuss the event.

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ARMPAC raised about $94,000 in April, the last month for which figures were available, and $390,000 in the first four months of the year. Last year, the committee took in nearly $1.6 million. Since 1994, the committee has raised $13.3 million.