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Senator says he thought colleague paid for party

A lobbyist footed most of the bill for Victor Crist's party at another senator's house.

By LUCY MORGAN
Published March 22, 2005

TALLAHASSEE - Sen. Victor Crist says he was touring Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla's expensive new house during an engagement party for another senator when Diaz de la Portilla suggested doing the same for Crist.

Lobbyists helped pay for the first party, and Miami lobbyist Bob Levy wound up paying most of the $5,000 tab for Crist's party. But Crist said he was unaware of the arrangement until later.

"When a colleague throws me an event, I am honored," Crist said Monday as he described events leading up to his March 9 party. "I didn't know who he went to have it paid for. Normally up here, they pay for it or get a group of sponsors."

Crist said he thanked Levy and others who picked up the tab for the party at Diaz de la Portilla's new $800,000 Tallahassee house after his fellow senator named those who helped pay for the party.

Diaz de la Portilla said Levy offered to pick up the tab and suggested the party for Crist.

It was handled much the same way as an earlier party Diaz de la Portilla had for Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, and his fiancee.

Although state law prohibits lawmakers from soliciting any gift from lobbyists, it is not uncommon for lobbyists to foot the bill for parties, a tradition Senate President Tom Lee wants to end.

Lee attended the party for Crist but says he would not have gone had he known it was financed by a lobbyist. Lee has banned the tradition of having lobbyists pay for lunches at the Capitol.

In past years lobbyists often picked up the tab for lunch in the Legislature and were allowed to post a sign indicating who was paying the bill. At some gatherings the lobbyist picking up the tab also gets to make a brief pitch to lawmakers in attendance.

"Unfortunately, there was nothing unique about it," Lee said last week when asked about Crist's party. "It's part of the culture of this town. Had I known they were planning to do that, I would have at least offered to try and get the state party to pay for it."

Lobbyists complain that political parties frequently ask them to share the costs for parties like the ones at Diaz de la Portilla's house. Lee said he does not believe the Republican Party is making such requests any longer.

Diaz de la Portilla said the party for Haridopolos in January was paid for by six or seven other lobbyists who offered to help. Haridopolos said he believes as many as 20 lobbyists paid for the party without violating any rules.

Haridopolos and his wife, Stephanie, married on Jan. 28. He said his wife and Diaz de la Portilla's wife, Claudia, are friends.

"I offered my house to honor two colleagues," Diaz de la Portilla said. "And I spent $600 to buy liquor for about 150 people."

At a hearing earlier this year, Diaz de la Portilla asked the Florida Elections Commission to drop a $17,000 fine imposed on him for violating campaign finance laws.

"I went to his last party and saw his house, I didn't think he'd have trouble paying for anything," Crist said.

Diaz de la Portilla reports his $29,000 legislative salary as his only income and says his wife, a lobbyist, bought the house.

[Last modified March 22, 2005, 06:24:09]