WASHINGTON - Republican Sen. Conrad Burns has a busy fundraising schedule over the next few months, including a high-dollar event at a Washington lobbying firm in June.

That breakfast event, which will be held at Patton Boggs on June 21, comes several months after the Montana senator moved a fundraiser from a lobbying firm to Republican Senate campaign headquarters. That January event had come under some scrutiny because of Burns' connections to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

The Patton Boggs fundraiser will be hosted by five lobbyists at the firm, three of whom list one of their specialties as "appropriations" on the firm's Web site. Burns is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

One of the hosts, Kevin O'Neill, has "secured more than $100 million in federal appropriations for his clients," according to the Web site.

The breakfast costs a minimum of $1,000 per political action committee and $500 per person, according to the invitation. Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, the Republican chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, is scheduled to attend as a special guest.

Burns, who is seeking his fourth term in the Senate, has at least three other fundraisers planned, including one hosted by fellow Republican Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi. Burns is also hosting the "2nd Annual Sen. Conrad Burns Napa Valley Wine Tour" in July and the "13th Annual Burns Classic" golf and fishing weekend in Bigfork, Mont., in September.

The Napa Valley trip will cost attendees $3,000 per political action committee and $2,000 for individuals; the Burns Classic will cost $2,000 per political action committee and $1,000 per person.

Burns spokesman Jason Klindt declined to comment on specific fundraisers but said the campaign will continue to stockpile resources to compete with out-of-state money they project will flow to Democrats after next week's primary.

"We have wide and deep support from the Yaak to Alzada and we don't intend to let East Coast liberals buy this seat," Klindt said.

Burns has returned or donated to charity about $150,000 in donations from Abramoff, his clients and his associates, and Democrats have tried to make Burns' connections to lobbyists a central issue of this year's Senate campaign. Abramoff pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges earlier this year and agreed to cooperate in a congressional influence-peddling investigation.

The January fundraiser at the firm Cassidy and Associates, scheduled to celebrate Burns' birthday, was moved to the National Republican Senatorial Committee after Democrats criticized the event.

At the time, the Burns campaign declined to elaborate on the reason for the move.

Burns has seen his approval ratings drop sharply as the Abramoff scandal has unfolded, and polls show him in a close race with two potential Democratic challengers this November.

A poll conducted last week for Lee Newspapers puts Burns' approval rating at 38 percent, down from 51 percent six months ago, 59 percent a year ago and 63 percent in December 2004.

State Auditor John Morrison and state Senate President Jon Tester are vying for the Democratic nomination for Senate.

A spokesman for Tester said he has fundraisers planned in Helena and Great Falls before next week's primary, while a spokeswoman for Morrison said he has a fundraiser planned in Great Falls. The minimum contribution to all three Democratic fundraisers is $25.