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Florida Legislature 2005 (click for ongoing coverage)

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As session dawns, cash flows

Lobbyists spread campaign cash as the Legislature's fundraising clock ticks toward zero.

By STEVE BOUSQUET
Published March 8, 2005

TALLAHASSEE - The lobbyists who visited freshman state Rep. Trey Traviesa of Tampa Monday brought more than good wishes.

They came bearing money.

Traviesa, a 35-year-old Republican elected in November, has not cast a vote in the 2005 Legislature and has little power in the Florida House. But he is busy raising money for next year's re-election campaign, and lobbyists are helping.

"Have a good session," lobbyist John Thrasher told Traviesa as he handed him an envelope.

Across the capital, legislators scooped up campaign cash in a race against time. It was their last chance to raise money before today's session begins because legislative rules bar fundraising until the session ends in May. The rule is intended to avoid the appearance of impropriety when money changes hands around key votes.

It is part of a common political strategy to raise money early to scare away opponents. Lobbyists, who have a stake in the outcome of legislation, are a ready source of cash.

The fundraising seems to intensify each year, even as new Senate President Tom Lee of Brandon rails against the influence of money.

Traviesa, who has an interest in becoming House speaker some day, was one of about two dozen lawmakers raising money Monday.

"I have relationships with these people already. They're friends," Traviesa said. "They know that they don't get anything different from me, before the check or after the check. But if they call me, and they want my ear on an issue, they're going to get it. But that's all they're going to get, and then I'm going to tell them how I feel about the issue."

Common Cause supports the session fundraising ban, despite the aggressive soliciting right before the deadline.

"They're bellying up to the trough, trying to eat the biggest meal they can before they have to go without for awhile," said Ben Wilcox of Common Cause. "To me, it's obscene, and being on the eve of the session, it's obvious the money is being given in the expectation of some kind of a return on that investment."

Rep. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, held a lunch-time fundraiser for her campaign for the Senate seat that Democrat Les Miller is vacating to run for Congress. Joyner smiled and shook hands as a small stream of people trickled past.

"The election is still a long way off," Joyner said. "We're just getting out of the gate, and now we've got to stop for the legislative session."

But she's not complaining. "It's good for legislators to be focused on doing the job that the people sent them up here to do," Joyner said.

Joyner's Democratic Senate opponent, Rep. Frank Peterman of St. Petersburg, also held a fundraiser Monday.

At the members-only Governor's Club, a short walk from the Capitol, lobbyists shuttled in and out of an elegant second-floor dining room to see Sen. Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, and the three Republican senators for whom he was hosting a fundraiser.

Few sampled the finger sandwiches. Instead, most spent a few minutes visiting with Pruitt and Sens. Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Mike Haridopolos and Lee Constantine before handing over white envelopes addressed to each senator.

Later, Sen. Rod Smith, D-Gainesville, held a fundraiser for his gubernatorial campaign. He declined to say how much he raised other than, "a good number."

At Traviesa's fundraiser, Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami, pulled back his lapel to reveal a pocket stuffed with at least a half-dozen envelopes containing checks for his campaign, or others.

Rivera, elected in 2002, wants to change state law to allow unopposed lawmakers to keep unspent money for the next campaign, as members of Congress do.

Legislators must dispose of all unspent campaign money after an election. They can donate to their political parties, charities or the state treasury or refund to contributors.

Lawmakers who win unopposed, Rivera said, must empty their checking accounts only to begin soliciting from the same donors.

"You want to take special interests our of this (system)? Roll the money over," Rivera argued. "Then, you don't even have to go to the lobbyists again."

Common Cause's Ben Wilcox said that would favor incumbents, and said his group could not support it. "There would be nothing to stop someone from rolling over their campaign funds and then going whole hog again," Wilcox said.

--Times staff writers Carrie Johnson and Joni James contributed to this report.

[Last modified March 8, 2005, 18:45:20]