Just Hours Before Releasing Budget, House Leadership Team Holds Mega Fundraiser

Just Hours Before Releasing Budget, House Leadership Team Holds Mega Fundraiser

Pay to play?

 

As the House leadership was putting the final touches on the State’s FY 2027 budget, Speaker of the House Chris Blazejewski and Majority Leader Katherine Kazarian had a joint fundraiser. The passage of the budget is one of the closing salvos to the end of the legislative session. With this year being an election year, the legislative leaders are racing to end the session.

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To attend the event, lobbyists needed to stroke checks for both leaders — $200 to Blazejewski and another $150 to Kazarian.

 

The joint event was held at the Carpionato Group’s Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick — the owners of the property have been in the news recently.  A GoLocal report that unveiled a federal investigation.

 

Never before has a legislative leader held a major fundraiser so close to the end of the legislative session.

 

When GoLocal asked whether the timing of the fundraiser created a perception of pay-to-play, Blazewski ignored the core question.

 

“We have to fundraise all year long,” said Blazejewski. “We need the resources to get our message out.”

 

 

When asked if it created a perception problem or why the fundraiser could not take place after the budget, Blazejewski glossed over the question, repeating that he needed to raise money to get his message out.

 

As of March 31, 2026, Blazejewski had $458,019.78 cash on hand.

 

Kazarian reported $138,048.15 for the same time period.

 

The proposed House leadership budget increases state spending by $1 billion, increases the number of state employees, and increases taxes. READ MORE.