John Stanton reports for BuzzFeed:

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, the lead sponsor on the Disclose Act – which would force outside political organizations to disclose donations of more than $10,000 – briefly left a “midnight vigil” on the Senate floor to attend a fundraiser for a health care reform group. …

Whitehouse didn’t go far – the event was held at Johnny’s Half Shell, a tony bar located less than a quarter mile from the Senate chamber that is a popular venue for fundraisers by politicians, lobbyists, political groups, and non-profits like the Alliance, an educational group that does not take positions on legislation, including ObamaCare, and which backs “affordable, quality health care and long-term care for all Americans.”

The Alliance for Health Reform describes itself as a 21-year-old bipartisan nonprofit with a mission of providing information about the nation’s health care system. Whitehouse’s office defended his attendance at the event as brief and fitting with his longtime advocacy for health care reform.

Meanwhile, the senator went out of his way to make sure his colleagues were well-nourished for the DISCLOSE Act vigil – he brought them some Rhode Island cookies from Scialo Bros. Bakery in Providence:

It’s unclear if the Alliance for Health Reform has a position on late-night cookie binges.