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Florida Legislature 2005 (click for ongoing coverage)

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Soirees sponsored by lobbyists decrease

The Senate president's proposed plan to lessen the influence lobbyists have on lawmakers is already having an effect.

By LUCY MORGAN
Published April 16, 2005

TALLAHASSEE - For years, a legislator planning a party would ask lobbyists to help cover the tab - lunches for committee meetings, after-hour dinners or whatever else a lawmaker wanted.

But the demand is down this year, particularly in the Senate where President Tom Lee is trying to curb the influence of lobbyists.

Lee put a stop to the free lunches lobbyists supplied in the Senate Office Building and is pushing to change state law to require lobbyists to report their fees and identify the lawmakers they wine and dine.

Lee has made the lobbying bill a top priority and has the support of Gov. Jeb Bush. But it's uncertain how far the House will go.

Lobbyists continue to provide free lunches for House staff and lawmakers, often posting a sign identifying which lobbyist paid.

A free meal is legal if it's worth less than $100. Lobbyists have to report any gift, including food and drink, valued at more than $25, but reporting is spotty. Only lobbyists for BellSouth and Disney World routinely file reports identifying meals, tickets and other items supplied to lawmakers that cost between $25 and $100.

Despite Lee's crackdown, lobbyists were called on twice this year to pay for engagement parties for two senators.

Lee attended both events but said he did not know lobbyists were picking up the tab.

The engagement parties were for Sens. Victor Crist, R-Tampa, and Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne. Both were held at the new Tallahassee home of Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla. Both lawmakers say they thought Diaz de la Portilla was paying.

Diaz de la Portilla says he merely offered his house for friends. Lobbyist Bob Levy of Miami helped raise the money for both events.

An e-mail Levy sent to Diaz de la Portilla, several of the lobbyists and Brandon Wagner, an aide to Crist, laid out how Crist's party was planned.

"Ok we're all in agreement as of late last night," Levy wrote. "We do the Victor engagement party the Wednesday of opening week - we need to design an invite and get it out ASAP for the event. ... Louis you and I need to raise like $5,000 for this event to include all the food and booze ... and Victor supplies his own invite list for lobbyists he wants and we invite all senators and spouses. ... "

Crist said he never saw the e-mail and noted that the address for Wagner was wrong. He said that his office gets thousands of e-mails every day and that he does not think the Levy note made it to his office.

"I never knew lobbyists were paying for it until Sen. Diaz de la Portilla stood up to thank the sponsors," Crist said.

Asked how often he is asked to underwrite a party, Levy said: "Too often."

But he said the demand is down in the wake of publicity over the two engagement parties and Lee's attempts to curtail the influence of lobbyists.

Some of his clients are reluctant to provide the money for such events and some legislative staffers have quit attending functions paid for by lobbyists.

"If the purpose of this was to reduce it, it's done that, especially in the Senate," Levy said. "A lot of people are scared and I don't blame them."

[Last modified April 16, 2005, 01:20:07]