On Deadline was compiled and edited by Mark Mahoney, editorial page editor of The Post-Star in Glens Falls, N.Y. If you have an innovations or inspiration you'd like to share with American Editor readers, please e-mail it to Mark at mahoney@poststar.com.

Winter 2009 Bad housekeeping seal of approval Teleconference with benefits Party on, congressman dude Hey, we’ll take it One for the good guys Yes, mr. (first name) president Bailout blackout Rotten onion

THE SUNLIGHT FOUNDATION IS ALWAYS looking for clever ways to expose how government works - and doesn't work - on the citizens' behalf. (Their Congressional Record's "word of the day" is a classic example.) One of the foundation's latest projects is an analysis of the top partying spots for congressional fundraisers in 2008. The report shows that a handful of "pricey restaurants and private town houses" are where the most fundraising events for members of Congress take place. Among the top campaign-building party spots are Johnny's Half Shell with 120 events, Charlie Palmer Steak with 83 and Bistro Bis with 79 - all in Washington, D.C.

The foundation has posted a Top 20 list on its Web site, www.sunlightfoundation.com.

It might be no coincidence that many of the top sites are located within an intern's throw of the U.S. Capitol. A clickable map on the Web site clearly shows the cluster of pay-to-party places.

"Lawmakers can easily run straight from a fundraising event where they're collecting checks from lobbyists with a stake in an issue straight to the House or Senate floor to vote about that very subject," said Nancy Watzman, director of the Sunlight's Party Time project.

Overall, Sunlight's analysis documented 2,117 events in 2008 - an average of more than 176 per month, or nearly six a day.*