GOP senators torn over luxury fundraising weekend during shutdown

The Senate will not be holding votes this weekend on reopening the government as was initially expected, as some Republican senators will be attending a high-dollar fundraising retreat for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) on Georgia's Sea Island.

The timing of the fundraising committee’s fall meeting is awkward for senators; Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has urged his GOP colleagues not to hold fundraisers during the shutdown because it could open them up to political attacks.

The Senate Republicans’ weekend at the luxurious Sea Island Resort is a big draw for Republican donors and lobbyists, giving them face time with important GOP policymakers.

An invitation to the NRSC’s fall meeting lists “group rates” for rooms at the resort ranging from $495 per night for a Garden Wing Room to $599 per night for the Beach Club One Bedroom Suite.

And the resort itself is a mecca for golf lovers, featuring three immaculately curated golf courses, a spa and fitness center and a picturesque white sand beach.

Republican senators are usually expected to attend the fundraising weekend, which is an annual NRSC event, but they aren’t required to do so.

This year, however, some Republican senators are nervous about the political optics of hanging out at a posh resort while the government is shut down, and some GOP lawmakers are thinking about changing their plans to skip it entirely, according to sources familiar with the behind-the-scenes hand-wringing.

One person familiar with the issue said NRSC Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is lobbying GOP colleagues to show up at the retreat, which has been planned for months.

The event was contracted years in advance, and its costs cannot be refunded.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), who is locked in a standoff with Democratic leaders over reopening government, however, is not thrilled with the prospect of Republican senators mingling with donors at a high-end resort while thousands of federal workers have been furloughed and may miss their next paychecks, according to the source.

Johnson shares Thune’s concern and told his Republican colleagues earlier this week not to hold fundraisers during the shutdown. He doesn’t want Democrats to use such events as political ammo, feeling that Republicans now have the high ground in the standoff.

Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) said he doesn’t plan to attend the NRSC’s fall meeting because he will be traveling back to Utah.

“I don’t know that there’s a perfect answer for me. I won’t be going there,” he said, referring to the Sea Island event. “Utah has had a couple of situations — one was the shooting at the [Mormon] church in Michigan, the other was the death of the president of the church. Because of that, I’m going to be going home to attend his funeral.”

Curtis cautioned that Republicans need to be “sensitive” about how their actions are perceived during a shutdown.

“I told the clerk to stop my salary. I just think it’s very important that we’re sensitive to things,” he said, revealing his decision to forgo a congressional salary during the shutdown.

The Senate is not expected to hold any votes over the weekend after voting three times this week on the House-passed government funding bill.

A spokesperson for the NRSC said Democratic obstruction to funding the government is a bigger issue.

“While Schumer shuts down the government to give free healthcare to illegals, Republicans are united. The NRSC retreat’s record attendance shows Republicans are focused on one mission: protecting and growing President Trump’s Senate Majority,” Joanna Rodriguez said.

People planning to attend the weekend event received an email from the NRSC on Thursday blasting Democrats for the shutdown. The email highlighted the NRSC’s ad attacking Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) for voting with Schumer and explained, “These events are reserved and contracted years in advance — beyond even our current term at the NRSC — and both our costs and attendees’ rooms are non-refundable.”

Republican sources also point out Senate Democrats are scheduled to hold a fundraising retreat next weekend, when the government may still be shuttered.