August is in full swing and some much-needed cash is flowing into Denver's Democratic National Convention (and, incidentally, so is sponsored by a host of corporations) looking to schmooze our lawmakers. Ellen Miller at the Sunlight Foundation posted in May and followed up about the Democrats' plans to ameliorate the rising costs of the DNC at Denver's Pepsi Center with corporate contributions . Like any Pop-concert or Nuggets game at the Center, corporations are snatching up the Center's wall-space, but this time there's an added bonus: Congressional hand-shakes or "access."

In May, The Rocky Mountain News' Kevin Vaughan convincingly suggested the donations to the DNC are a quid pro quo for favors later on:

"Qwest, for example, is interested in a rewrite of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. Molson Coors has an interest in tax policy, alcohol advertising and self- regulation, excise taxes on beer and other issues. Coca-Cola is looking at the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act of 2007 and other issues."

Companies can buy tickets for exclusive convention receptions at upwards of $200,000. One such event honors Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and costs corporate lobbyists a whopping $155,000. This type of funding circumvents existing campaign contribution legislation, in which individuals can donate $2,300 to candidates. Who's in your wallet?