Why is Rent-seeking down in Fla Russ? You think they are passing more yellow envelopes?
sptimes.com
TALLAHASSEE - Spending by lobbyists to wine and dine Florida legislators dramatically declined last year, new documents show.
Reports filed by 576 lobbyists show they spent about $3.5-million on behalf of 1,708 clients, the lowest in a decade and less than half of the record $7.9-million reported in 2003.
With 160 lawmakers in Tallahassee, that averages $21,676 each last year, compared with $49,475 in 2003. Lobbyists reported having 1,708 clients
The documents were released Tuesday by the Lobbyist Registration Office. Lobbyists are required to report twice a year how much they spent to influence legislators but are not required to identify which lawmakers they entertained.
Why did spending by lobbyists drop so much? No one is sure, but a few offered some ideas.
Lobbyist Brian Ballard thinks Senate President Tom Lee's criticism of the lobbying culture in the state capital had an effect. Although he wasn't president last year, Lee wielded power as Senate rules chairman.
"And more and more people would rather be home at night, both legislators and lobbyists," Ballard said. "And a lot of entertaining goes on around campaign fundraising and is not reportable (as a lobbying expense). There was a campaign last year."
Lee has criticized the way lobbyists try to influence legislators with free lunches, dinners and campaign contributions. He recently banned the tradition of free lunches provided to staff members and lawmakers by lobbyists in Senate committee offices.
Tuesday night Lee said it's too soon to conclude he is having any impact on lobbyist spending.
"I don't really understand why it would go down, but I think it's good news," Lee said.
Lobbyist Jim Krog, never a big spender, thinks the Tallahassee lobbying scene has been stagnant for the past two years because of the chaos under former Republican House Speaker Johnnie Byrd of Plant City.
But with new leaders in the House and Senate, businesses are suddenly hiring more lobbyists for the legislative session that begins March 8, Krog said.
"For the past two years bills weren't going anywhere," Krog noted. "Why would you tell your clients to come into the game when the chances of passing something were low?" The head of citizens lobby Common Cause of Florida was stumped by the spending decline. "I can't imagine why," said Ben Wilcox. "The last few years the trend has been going up."
Richard Gentry, veteran lobbyist for the Florida Homebuilders, questioned the figures, saying he has seen no sign that the wining and dining has declined.
Veteran lobbyist Ron Book of Miami was the top spending lobbyist with $314,600, money he says he spent primarily on lunches, dinners and chocolates for legislators and staff members.
His expenditures were about $15,000 higher than last year.
Book said he hasn't seen any sign that lobbyists were cutting back. Book represents 57 clients, including Pinellas, Broward and Miami-Dade counties and big businesses like BellSouth, AutoNation, and Florida Power & Light Co. Book buys a lot of catered lunches and dinners for legislative delegations that frequently meet during lunch at the Capitol.
In return for his money, Book gets to attend the events and frequently makes a presentation on behalf of one or more of his clients.
"When I sponsor a lunch or dinner in a public building, I don't just serve legislators, we serve everyone who comes in the room."
Combined with the more than $400,000 he contributed during elections over the past decade, the expenditures give Book ready access to lawmakers who are likely to return his calls. "I hope I get my calls returned a little more quickly or get clients in to see them when we need to," Book said.
Book also delivers boxes of gourmet chocolate to individual legislators and staffers when session begins every March.
"We give chocolates all over the place and leave open boxes in places where the public can enjoy them," said Book, who owns the Confection Connection, a chocolate shop in Miami.
Mike Hightower, the BlueCross BlueShield of Florida lobbyist with the second-highest expenditures on the list - $268,810 - says he spends most of the money on polling, constituent education and helping lawmakers who have helped his customers maintain access to "affordable, quality health care."
Hightower said he doesn't know how much of the money went to wining and dining lawmakers. "I don't like to give our money for food and beverages," Hightower said.
Hightower and other BlueCross lobbyists are likely helped by the $1-million in campaign donations the company has made over the past decade.
Hightower said he doesn't call legislators often, but instead relies on former House Speaker John Thrasher and veteran lobbyist Paul Sanford, who also work for BlueCross.
Robert M. Levy, the third-biggest spender, reported $191,250 to influence legislators.
Levy said he spent money on several client conventions where legislators were entertained. "If there has been a decline in expenditures, it hasn't reached us," Levy said.
The big spenders last year were big spenders for the past eight years.
Lobbyists reported spending $456 per legislator in 1970.
By 1980, that figure rose to $5,245. In 2000, spending had exploded to $25,681 per legislator.
BIG SPENDERS
Spending on Florida legislators by interest group.
BlueCross BlueShield $300,193
Florida Association of Realtors $200,299
AARP $143,348
BellSouth $127,770
Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers $76,753
National Federation of Independent Businesses $53,453
American Cancer Society $73,955
FCCI Insurance Group $48,879
Florida Tri-Agency Coalition on Smoking and Health $43,153
Florida Power & Light $40,067 |
