Rep. Charlie Rangel, NY-15, New York, Swamp List

For the past decade, the Congressional Black Caucus Political Education & Leadership Institute has sponsored an annual policy conference in Mississippi to discuss everything from health care to clean energy and infrastructure.

But the event also has corporate sponsorships, leading to a thorny ethics question that is increasingly difficult to answer: What does it mean for a third party to “sponsor” an event that includes Members of Congress?

Members of Congress are not allowed to accept travel from private entities but are allowed to take trips sponsored by nonprofit groups.

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(Paul Singer, “Events Complicated by ‘Evolving’ Ethics Rules,” Roll Call, 10/06/09)