On Monday, May 14, local billionaires Richard and Helen DeVos will host a "cocktail reception" for Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter. The fundraiser will take place at the Amway Grand Plaza and will cost $1,000 per person. The event is organized by and funds will presumably go to Specter's 2010 reelection campaign as the event is organized by Citizens for Arlen Specter.
While it is not unusual to see the DeVos family using their money to influence elections outside of Michigan and Florida (where they have a second home), it is unusual to see them supporting Specter. Specter is a so-called "centrist" Republican and has taken positions at odds with much of what the DeVos family has supported over the years. Specter has taken positions providing some support for civil unions for LGBT people and has support the right to chose, two things that the DeVos family has campaigned against aggressively both through their political contributions and their philanthropy.
The Grand Rapids Press reported today (Saturday) that the event was unexpectedly cancelled, but did mention more about Specter's connection to DeVos:
A spokesman for Specter said the senator and DeVos have become "close friends" since they met through a cause for which both have a passion: The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
Completed in 2003, the center is a $185 million showcase for the U.S. Constitution.
DeVos sits on the center's board of directors and was a key contributor, giving $10 million to help build the center. Its permanent exhibit hall is named the Richard and Helen DeVos Exhibit Hall.
Specter, 77, has been a vocal supporter of the center and is credited with helping corral $65 million in federal funds for its construction. His wife, Joan, is a fundraiser for the center.
Scott Hoeflich, a spokesman for Specter, said DeVos and Specter "became close friends" after meeting through mutual friends at the center.
Yeah, I should have caught the connection to the National Constitution Center. I looked at contributions to Specter's campaigns for money from DeVos, but for some reason I didn't think to check for entities located in Pennsylvania with whom DeVos is involved.