This sucks big-time: Congressman's Seat on Committee Is Spun Into Fund-Raising Appeal

From The Wall Street Journal:

A supporter of Rep. Xavier Becerra's, one of the appointees to the deficit-reduction committee, has already figured out how to raise money for the California Democrat—by touting his seat on the panel.

About two hours after House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi named Mr. Becerra to the committee Thursday, a political supporter began notifying Wall Street lobbyists about a $1,500-per-person fund-raising event.

An email from Jim Hart, an official with the Investment Company Institute, noted that the Aug. 31 event will feature Mr. Becerra, who is "not only vice chairman of the Democratic Caucus, but who also has just been named to the new deficit reduction committee." It promised a look at "what will most assuredly be the primary topic of discussion between now and the end of the year."

Later on Thursday, Mr. Becerra put out a statement saying, "I did not know, did not ask, would not ask and I will not ask any of my supporters to use my appointment to the select committee for purposes outside its principle focus."