Staffers and lobbyists have mixed at least three fundraisers this month – most recently a fundraiser for Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., where the purpose of the fundraiser was to introduce Dan Kunsman, the senator’s new chief of staff.

According to a Roll Call article, [subscription required] at least one lobbyist present at Kunsman’s debut felt the event crossed the line between legislating and fundraising.

“It was definitely a unique approach, and not one I would want repeated,” said a GOP lobbyist at the lunch to Roll Call. “It was uncomfortably close to the explicit staff access/money line.”

There have been at least two other fundraisers this month where staffers and lobbyists have crossed paths. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee held its annual staffer-lobbyist dinner at Hotel Monoco. In the past, the event has raised almost $250,000. The Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee also planned a June 23 fundraiser with two dozen Senate chiefs of staff, who were given top billing on the invitation, Roll Call reported.

The 2003 Senate Ethics Manual states that it's not improper for a Senate employee to engage in campaign activity on his or her own time, so long as such activity complies with the Senate Rule that prohibits fundraising by most Senate employees for federal campaigns.

The 2008 House Ethics Manual states that staff is allowed to do campaign work as long as it's done on their own time and their bosses don't compel them to do it.

What constitutes an employee's own time? According to the House manual, it is: "…determined by the personnel policies that are in place in the employing office. Time that is available to a staff member, under those policies, to engage in personal or other outside activities may instead be used to do campaign work, if the individual so chooses. This free time may include, for example, a lunch period, time after the end of the business day, and annual leave."

Another interesting bit from the House manual: "A Member may not adjust the work requirements of the congressional office, or add unpaid interns during the campaign, in order to create more “free time” for staff to do campaign work."

According to both manuals, however, a staffer can work part-time in Congress for a period in order to dedicate time to a campaign, with the corresponding reduction in pay.