Who Pays for the Olive?

There is a group in the U.S. Senate so cautious that it meets regularly but has no name. Its mission, according to one attendee, is to establish a "haven of bipartisanship in a bitterly divided legislative body." How? Mostly by serving food and alcohol--paid for by lobbyists--to chiefs of staff on both sides of the aisle. A recent invite, sent from Tennessee Republican Lamar Alexander's office, urges guests to check out the swanky new Oya restaurant, known for its $15 rum cocktails and red crocodile bar top. The host of the upcoming event, according to an e-mail obtained by TIME, is...

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