| Show - - t :‘:: '7- - - - - 4 4 ''11 A The Salt Lake Tribune Sunda September :1 a a 1989 IT ! A It Hard to Serve Public interest Public Servants Find cost of - b Elections Clitmrieks GiN'es to Lt f 1 rl Newspapers WASHINGTON — Utah Demo-ra- t Wayne Owens got a quick lesson on life in Congress upon return-mto the House after a absence Attending an orientation class with other Democratic freshmen elected in 1986 Owens was told to remember this line and repeat it at every opportunity: Val you give me $1000?It could serve as the motto of Knight-Ridde- r g Congress moneychasing DCalif where addressing the nation's problems often takes a back seat to the pervasive and — some say — corrupting practices of raising money to campaign and collecting fees for giving speeches -Money has always been a factor in American politics" said former but Sen Thomas Eagleton has never been such an overfactor as whelming ILI '': -!: ' - "'" - i 1 - 14': ' IF'rticr - Vsk '''--' F :T3t::::'!: v ': 1 4r nut-lio- ' V ' MI' ' '1' - 1tr r ' ' I: ' ‘$'' ?v " :""': ' ' 5'7'A:::? ''' '" :1 'Z'e 4 44k ' '''i: N'''''' :' :: II :: : :il ' 1t '' 4"-!- ': '''' 44 '' : 4 ' ' ': : :'' TOV'S-kt'- t ' 1-- i 74- r rlr:7:rTI4'-iit-i'l- c v it r 411it ' -' 47 irif " ''''' - - IP ' ' ': se ?-- 't ' :7 - :' ' t 043'4144 CT4 klititt: "0 '1 4 ' - t 4 1: 1"2'- ' 1 10 1 - - 00' t ' s i'' S 7' if ' ' ' '''- 4 ': xl-- r— ' - Ir- sha t :'' i 41 fxi - t141 '' 44 l - 4I: t If f'1i ($1tskr"?'-'- ' - i ::: II §:! :gri444 ' ' ! 4114r sl‘ V 41PO't)44' Ita'" r ?:: ' ' ' ''- - Q:'&k ' '''' ' ' a'244V14"01 —Tribune File Photo other lawmakers are spending more of their time raising money to fuel their campaigns Wayne Owens and The amount of money that 1101- lings and his colleagues can receive from any one source hasn't changed In the year or two before an election some legislators say they of their spend more than time on fund raising And for candidates trying to break into the House or Senate it's even more one-thir- recent years A candidate can solicit no more than $2000 from any One individual $1000 for a primary and $1000 for a general election For special interest groups the limit is $5000 for a primary and $5000 for a general election What has changed is how much campaigns cost In 1974 the average cost of an incumbent senator's campaign was $556000 In 1988 it was $396 million seven times as much The average cost of an incumbent house members camin six-yea- r paign $54000 from jumped Utahns' Honorarium Statistics Congressional rules limit the amount of speaking fees or honorariums that senators and representatives may keep The cap is a percentage of members congressional salary which is $89500 for Senators may keep 40 percent or 835800 House members may keep 30 percent or 826050 Honorariums exceeding those caps must be donated to charity Below are the honorariums figures for Utah's members of Congress in 1988 the last complete reporting period Seri Orrin Hatch — $79025 of which 843425 was donated to charity Net total was 835600 Sen Jake Garn — 861700 of which $211000 kk as donated to charity Net total was 835700 Rep James !Nilsen — $17000 Rep Hosard Nielson — 810000 Rep NVayne Os ens — 816000 e d g fund raising — Los Angeles New York Miami and Dallas are favorite sites — is one reason that most of the work in the House and Senate is crammed into three days each week Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday "Every election season there's a candidate a week out here trying to garner the support of the entertainment industry" said Margery Tabankin executive director of the Hollywood Women's Political Committee "We see how much time they have to spend raising money and not governing the country" Even here the fund raising crowds out legislative activity Early evening votes on the Senate floor reare put off when ceptions are in full swing Most are held by senators for themselves Others are sponsored by the political parties When votes are possible lawmakers carry beepers so they can return to the Capitol in s time for So numerous are the that lobbyists at the National Association of Homebuilders make a computer printout every Monday of the week's money-raisinreceptions and divide the attendance e to $380000 in that period Soaring television advertising costs are roost often cited as the culprit for spiraling campaign expenses but they're not the only factor Consultants pollsters and mail solicitors keep costs climbing And senators and representalk es fan the flames by amassing big campaign treasuries to scare off potential challengers and defend themselves against television attacks Some lawmakers do little actual fund raising themselves delegating the task to aides supporters and Senators can designate lobbyists three members of their tax payer-paistaffs to help solicit money llouse members can assign any number of aides The staffers are supposed to do the money raising in off hours but the rule isn't ' one-yea- V: "- fund-raisin- : 0r! ' ' - '14f '4 "'et: '''' :: 4i "'-- :$': ': 'At 0 rank-andfil- 7 ' 4''''VP'' ::::::::::::::!::::: t 77 cup-rattlin- r r 1 ANof :i''i: ' ' ' But beyond the time demands there are serious questions about whether the relentless pursuit of :dollars is distorting Congress in other ways: making it more attuned to special interests than the public interest constantly placing legislators in murky ethical situations and discouraging potential candidates 'for office On the face of it the system invites trouble Judges don't raise money from defendants and federal regulators don't solicit contributions from businesses they oversee "Do you think I would let an emPloyee of my company take money from a supplier?" asked James Calaway a Houston oilman and disenchanted Democratic That would be graft" Yet members of Congress rely on campaign donations from those vith direct stakes in their actions from businesses looking for tax breaks to unions pushing for man dated benefits for workers And legislators boost their personal in comes vith dollars that interest groups pay them in honoraria sometimes just for showing up at a breakfast or dinner One example: the National Yen lure Capital Association held two posh dinners at the Madison Hotel here last year one for Democrats ' on the House Ways and Means Committee the other for Republicans The 23 lawmakers who at tended were given $1000 each just to discuss the association's main " Knight-RiddeNewspapers WASHINGTON — What a differ ence a few blocks can make House and Senate members can pocket up to $2000 each time they speak to a lobbying group or dine with business executives But down the hill from the Capitol the same behavior by officials in the government's executive branch r could result in a jail term or a $100000 fine Congress has a history of applying less stringent standards on itself than on others but few examples are as obvious as the acceptance of honorariums — the payments that legislators receive from special-interes- t groups for showing up at an event If an executive branch official talks to a group its considered part of the job No extra compensation is received But a lawmakers presence outside the Capitol often carries a price tag If you want to have a member of Congress come and have breakfast lunch dinner with your clients you pay them an honorarium" one business lobbyist said "It's unseemly It really bugs me But that's the way it works" The result has been that legislators now routinely look to interest groups as their private benefactors Taxpayers foot the bill for the $89560 salaries of members of Congress Through honorariums interest groups provide up to an additional S26850 for House members and $35800 for senators "Honorariums for most members is not discretionary income" said who wants Rep Vic Fazio to raise pay and abolish honorariums "It's part of the way they make do under the conditions they find here in Washington" But it doesn't stop there Lawmakers also look to interest groups to help pay for vacations and trips abroad Warner Lambert a pharmaceutical firm picked up the tab for travel food and lodging costs for Rep and her daughLynn Martin ter to spend seven days in Puerto Rico last year Martin participated in a company seminar The National Association of Broadcasters paid at least seven lawmakers to come to lawaii for a winter conference according to a review of disclosure statements by Common Cause a lobbying group seeking to abolish honorariums Often the purpose isn't so much to hear what members of Congress have to say but to get them to listen to what an interest group thinks about a particular bill or issue The listening may come between golf rounds in Palm Beach Fla or it may come later in Washington when the interest group's lobbyist '-!! : :: 1L---- McCain 4 v ''- V5 k :it4': ! ffilp 0001 '':'' ' g ''': P':1:' ::: e"":" :: - ''' :t::1 c4 441 ' ''1::: Incumbents raised a zaggering $273 million for their campaigns before the 1988 elections $118 of it from special interest groups To keep pace with average :campaign costs a senator needed to raise $5422 every day for two 'vears compared to $762 a day in 1974 A House member needed to raise S521 a day compared to $74 a day in 1974 If nothing else the amount of tune spent raising money is reason fur concern because it diverts lak makers front the work taxpayers Its an inorpay them to perform dinate and incredibly enterprise" said Sen John '4 t - :: 7i:'?:':4 : ': '':: 145 'itioPabw—4404'4' rt10-:::'4 :: ' d ' - !s': :: i' :ic--:-::'- : ' ri::L : k ':i4::!!47:::sCktt4k'::::''': A': ':: well-serve- '4 rt7P- - 1 said 4:ek ITIT::: ' :' - - t ::':: ' ':-'- ' '?' ' r :'' Grotip BIA r I line INTith Lalvinakers 4 ' :':::-:-':':::- :::i:f': c: A :aeIS''' I '1 it ': :':'' ''''''''''''':: : ' ' '''''''''':V-6:4- ' " sap(' i Jr: ' : ' ' '' ' ''':::1::::': 1n ' A! i:- - 4 7'::: '' 7': 4:e::t -: 'Y': - '''' ' - 1 Ai :' -- — ' 7' i: :litie ' N : ''::1:-:---i- 7f:1:":i1''"41r 'P ::- :'-'-: 'er :4:::i::?:: ':1 ":4::?4s' i I- t!: NI!4- ' ?:A:i:5z:':p1::f:: ::::::?: 4 'irizt's"i'::'''''s': i: ' ' s :' :" now" fund-raise- p4y dpitQkJ Yf : ' -- : re:77 '!:' ''''!':'''''' '' 'T' i 1: ':":'i:':-':'-:- 4f ' Although many in Congress disThomas Eagleton agree with Beilensons conclusion "Tin Cup Routine" there is little question that money t does affect Congress ''' V'''-- ' tc4!:0"'' 150"t'-' ' :': ' ' ' '''f' "Everybody in the system orga- 'i r:' f1nizes themselves more and more to to people who've got mo- It:""''' '"" respond ':::? l': :::: ney'' said former Rep Buddy 4::'''': ' ':''''': "You can see it in MacKay :' 4! the interests that are not 4?4:' i' children clean air You ':f never see a political action commit''': igimi:::'4:?&x :::::: '''1 tee for mentally retarded people" lipit ' And the loser is often the tax pay P eAllk ar: er :i:"? 4117:1 '': If the savings and loan crisis had ' :: been addressed in 1986 according 14Irlititf to a recent Brookings Institution i: study the bailout would have cost ': ' 1 ''': ' ': '" $22 billion But campaign contribu'''' wiit! tions by the savings and loan indusfqx44410 0—iv awl '''''''''44e'' 4°: try helped delay a crackthm n on sick thrifts : :::'11F4714114eX '' ::''' By the time Congress acted last -' 11406e month to clean up the thrift induscost was estimated at more try the John McCain than $150 billion most of it coming Fund Raising Is a Diversion from iaxpayers A favorite recipient of thrift inup and perceives it's being had dustry donations was former House Eagleton said Banking Committee Chairman Fernand J St Germain a Rhode Island Eagleton soured by the role of Democrat who repeatedly allied money in riffles opted to retire in himself with the industry and re1986 rather than go through what ceived some $50000 in campaign he described as the "tin cup roucontributions from thrifts for his tine of raising money But the has only gotten louder since 1988 campaign his departure Honoraria may be abolished But Palms extended legislators scour major changes in campaign finance laws are considered unlikely due to the landscape for donations to their a lack of consensus on remedies litcampaigns Another tle public demand for reform and a recepday another reluctance by lawmakers to tamper tion vit h a system that serves them well to a After his 402 of 408 House members and 23 term Sen Ernest lioihngs of 27 senators were last held a series of town meetings to talk to voters "I didn't get much of year a chance during the campaign" he "rhe process is only going to be said "I was too busy raising bucki" changed when the citizenry wakes o it is 107 ttAk concern lowerIng the tax rate on capital gains It was obvious what they were doing" said one legislator who participated In all special interests shelled out $86 million in such honoraria last year to senators and representatives -If you step back and look at it from the perspective of anyone other than someone in our closed little circle here it's not right it can't be right" Rep Anthony C Bellenson (harks Green By 1 " 1 2 " 0 11: 4 b t I I i t 4 4 4 ( li - fund-raisin- roll-call- fund-raiser- f f I 9 '1 pays a visit "These honorariums are not s the ing paid because of what be- mem- ber of Congress is saying but to gain further access — and that smells" said Thomas Ludlow Ashley a former blouse member from Ohio and Washington lobbyist 4 Checkbook Democracy? DC Lobbies Let Money Do the Talking and Charles Green Newspapers WASHINGTON — It was an earl August evening and the odor of money and power was in the air Several hundred men 11 $800 Nulls along ith a few women in designer frocks mingled beneath the oaring arches of the ornate Pension Imild mg Juggling glasses of chile ine and small plates of steamed riarriS as they swapped tips about bow to e CO their will on Capitol By David Hess Lobbyists and lawmakers alike agree that money buys access to con though gressional decision-maker- s many differ over the value of that access Some insist that because so lobbies operate many here often in conflict they cancel each other out But others believe that access translates into influence simply he cause the people who don't get in don't get heard "Legislation tends to he -shaped by the people vho are heard- said Wilith liam J Baer a lawyerlobbyist the firm of Arnold ai1 Porter 'and to the extent that the people vim are heard are those who are giving the money it does limit input by those vho do not or cannot contribute 'Members of Congress invariabl deny that campaign contributions inflUeliCe their votes But SOCral at' kno‘k ledged in interviev s that thev were more likely to make time in their schedules for or answer telephone calls from people who had contributed hi their el forts "I probably shouldn't admit this but when a major organization contribution they do makes a major Sen John McCain huy accesssaid "And access is obviously very critical to the way business is Knight-Ridde- r h small army of lobby as going through its drill in a cene that is repeated hundreds of tones in e ery election cycle Last car alont working through Washington ists two-yea- r comnUttees !heir political-actiolobbies forked over $1594 million to Douse and Senate candidates In (unbent House members on aver got 47 pTcent of their entire ampaign contributions from PACs enate incumbents 28 percent to this night the lobbyists paid (MO apiece to hobnob vial Demo rain' I louse members And I toward of the Democratic Congresas Ional Campaign Committee H4hoo lhis lone event he said ould raise Si()() 000 for congresmnal races -- : i r 0 1 ' '"-- v ' - - ''''1- - 41 - A4 1z5 i 1? rittLLt ttiq y - Lb - ! -: I 'E''' e 4a4 1 t' S'411 0b' r : I 1I civil tt-s- - 11 a -" - 'i- i ' Hour's': day Not surprisingly since it is a crime to exchange a vote for a campaign contribution or speaking fee no lobbyist — or member of Congress — II openly concede that money is traded for votes Rut some acknowledge that money easu re Such candor is rare among lobbyists who often couch the aims of their contributions in altruisms and But many acknowledge evasions influence that the money is intended to establish the givers as bona fide "players' who take the game seriously — and are taken seriously by congressional recipients A House Democrat who asked for anonymity said that some lobbyists are able to get their way simply through personal friendships vith members -he Tiny become your friendsaid "They have you over to their could indirectly influence the outcome of legislation You gotta differentiate between Republican -- don't think money has much impact on the really big isNe issues On smaller issues those that might affect a particular interest or said I r 9 35 A A A I South State Street ' - aA A 'L ' ' '' 0Vice!' '''S"' 't f 1 - t out ' 1 t - ' ' 1: ' 4 t Kr ::r 562-220- 10 AM to 6 PM 0 A (49 flece- ''IL --: rei 4 t a t 4 - i ! laOr L4e—ts6 - - ' -- - 7i w's! br !- p4-- -4 -:- - ' 114 : N I t o T 21: 1 MaaI 1- - T - - 4 ri ! 1'17 - SillS" ' li" t v-1- i r i : :tT!71:1:-'t-l'i'1‘- - -- r - 1p r j 17: LP:&-- r - 1It - : : 7 : ttw-sat- t-04 AIME ai e 4 ' ' a-- Al i k : I B: - '' iii-r:41--- A41at - F ' tp" 0 OS AA: yr :f 8 ' I I e2 iwmotiltAii1 ': 4t :::: ' ' A y - - -- -- I 9 SAT t I WIPnig : ' : :77--"::- f'''' '' 1' li Ai p ' 1:- r ta it VoTb4F4 t - - rI1 LI '44'C' ' '' tst- ''71! ''''A -' '4 A ' 14"'t:''t - '1 i '' -' 11 r-- - ) : 57"e : 1 I fund-raisin- 9 A 4 4c 1t1t ''''4 31rn'- - '4' i'2' :: 4 1 n 's Mr': - Ili variety of finishes available 1 k ' No PIM to 8 money probably has sonic although it's tough to company Choose any chairs to go with any stock table or we'll help you design a custom solid oak table to meet your size style and shape requirements at a reasonable price '' thought- done around here because a senator has only X number of hours in the i'21 124m i140 1:97 ti0 r9 13 f 1e4' $y114 & f The lobbies did not stop there In the last two election campaigns scores of utility PACs donated nearly $90000 toward Matsuis So far in this election cycle nine PACs have contributed $5400 Former Rep Thomas Ashley an ohio Democrat who now is president of the Association of Bankholding Companies defended the role of lobbies but lamented the increasing reliance on money to manipulate Congress "Ideally' he said lobbles serve But good and useful purposes more and more you see them playing the big money game — and play ing it essentially for short-terre7 stills liver the long term there is a big: big price to pay — and that price is a loss of public confidence in government and an increasing disrepute in which Congress is held" Lobbyists participate not only in Ow events needed to pay for the munting campaigning costs but in Warming and staging them They have joined legions of legislative aides to set up steering committees for individual lawmakers to milk the PACs and iv iduals — oft en tapping he same sources again and again Those friendships ho ever can sometimes bite a Just ask Robert Matsui member of the House Ways and Means Committee Doing a favor for some his friends ill the California telephone industry caused him considerable embarrass ment and a reversal of position It also appears to have cost him thou sands of dollars in campaign contributions In 1985 Matsui inserted in the tax reform bill a provision that excused telephone electric and gas utilities from refunding promptly to consumers billions of dollars in excise taxes collected by the utilities in advance that are no longer due the government Matsui later was persuaded that this cheated utility customers So he sponsored an amendment earlier this year requiring faster refunds much to the dismay of the utilities industry — which lobbied to block the measure Thomas Ashley oft' g:0 t:: s " ft 1 t MSC But more and mom you purposes see them playing the big ntonev game and playing it eSSE'ni ially for Nit ()rt term results" admits former Congressman Thomas Ashley - 'A ' tl d- lObbieS NerCe 1r“Od (Hid t A tl house for dinner They take you out theater You sit with them at the congressional campaign committee dinners You play golf with them So before you know it they start call lug up and saying 'Hey I need help on this issue And you don't give it a second to the - |
