A small group of protesters gathered near the Westin Hotel in Annapolis on Friday to draw attention to corporate funding of a national meeting there of state lawmakers.
The National Speakers Conference, hosted by Maryland House Speaker Michael E. Busch, is funded by 67 corporations, many with business before the Maryland legislature, The Washington Post reported this week. Among the sponsors this year are four companies with an interest in Maryland's nascent slot-machine gambling program, The Post reported.
Five adults from the so-called coffee party — a liberal response to the conservative tea party movememt — accompanied by a baby and a toddler, hoisted signs that read, "Enjoy your coporate-funded field trip," and urged passers-by to ask why they're angry.
They timed their protest to a conference seminar exploring the reasons for voter discontent.
"Corporations have showered them with gifts and get exclusive opportunities to speak with them," said party organizer Susan Larson. "And they wonder why voters are angry?"
The protesters hastened to say they weren't upset with Busch, a Democrat, but rather with the overall way the political system works. They pointed to the controversial recent Supreme Court decision that expanded the ability of corporations to contribute to political candidates.
Later, Busch said the four-day conference, with about 30 legislative leaders from across the country, has gone well. It wraps up Saturday with a golf outing. This was the conference's first time in Maryland since the group's inception in 1992.
"There are no taxpayer dollars involved," Busch said. "It's basically run and financed the same as the National Governors Association and the Senate Presidents Association. For the most part, it has a consistent list of clients that support it every year."
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