From the Daily Herald:

How lobbyists' freebies add up for state legislators

By Joseph Ryan Daily Herald Staff Writer

Posted on February 24, 2003

SPRINGFIELD - Lawmaker's steak dinner: free.

Lawmaker's golf game at top-notch course: free.

Lawmaker's professional manicure: free.

An intimate setting to pitch legislation and bend a powerful official's ear: priceless.

View lobbying records for area lawmakers.

Illinois' state legislators wined, dined and partied on the dime of lobbyists last year to the tune of more than $1 million, an analysis of annual lobbyist records reveals.

Suburban lawmakers drank and ate nearly $50,000 of that total, a figure that doesn't include many receptions to which all 177 lawmakers and other state officials were often invited.

The abundance of free meals, glitzy receptions, tickets to events and golf games showered on policymakers isn't new to Springfield. But recently filed state lobbying reports give citizens a glimpse at many unofficial perks of being a state lawmaker.

And while good government organizations and freebie-avoiding lawmakers say the practice creates at the very least the perception of buying votes, those who indulge in lobbyists' gifts say they cannot be bought.

Lobbyists, who could represent a company as big as Boeing or a club as traditional as the Girl Scouts, take lawmakers out to dinners, hold lavish balls and hand out free tickets as a means to woo them and get their message out.

Persuading lawmakers is not a bad practice, and in fact it's an inherent part of democracy, said Cindy Canary of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. However, she said when lobbyists pick up the costly tab for dinner or hand out free tickets, their voices on policy can drown out the concerns of regular citizens.

"It shouldn't be necessary to take someone out to dinner to make your case," she said. "This really sends a snapshot to the people back home of what life is like during the legislative session. It's about the insider culture. It's about who's got whose ear."

The records reveal two different types of legislators: those who indulge in the high-class lawmaker lifestyle and those who largely shun it or can't get in.

Of the 50 suburban lawmakers reviewed by the Daily Herald, 14 took more than $1,000 in meals and gifts last year, while 11 received less than $200.

"I have never believed my constituents sent me to Springfield to be wined and dined by the big shots," said former state Rep. Mary Lou Cowlishaw, a Naperville Republican who retired last year after almost 20 years in the House. "I don't care what these people tell you. I find myself in the situation of being obligated to some interest group, so I try to refrain."

Cowlishaw received two free meals in 2002: one from the Illinois Education Association valued at $18, and one valued at $49 from the Illinois Energy Association.

State Rep. Jack Franks, a Woodstock Democrat, said he also tries to avoid free dinners and bar tabs. Last year Franks accepted $183 in meals and gifts from lobbyists.

"I can afford my own dinners," said Franks, who like all lawmakers receives $85 each session day from taxpayers for food and lodging expenses. "I see a lot of people do it, and that is up to them. You can do as much or as little as you want to in Springfield."

At the other end of the spectrum are lawmakers like state Rep. Steven Rauschenberger, an Elgin Republican, whose total tab for 2002 according to lobbyists was $4,442.

"It certainly doesn't change the way I vote or look at the world," Rauschenberger said.

State Rep. Brent Hassert, a Romeoville Republican, said his numbers for last year are high because he has headed several key committees during his nearly 10 years in the House. Hassert accepted $3,581 in meals and gifts in 2002. He said lobbyists court lawmakers who can make the biggest difference.

The suburban lawmaker who had the largest lobbying tab agreed.

"You try to turn down the ones that are unnecessary, but sometimes it's just really important to be there," said state Rep. Angelo "Skip" Saviano, an Elmwood Park Republican. "If you turn it down, you cut yourself out of the legislative process."

Saviano says he likely passes the most legislation in the House and that's why lobbyists often turn to him. Lobbyists treated him to $4,482 worth of dinners and golf in 2002.

Clearly Cowlishaw and Saviano represent the extremes of the lobbying reports. Most suburban lawmakers are like state Rep. Karen May, a Highland Park Democrat, who received $432 last year in gifts and food from lobbyists.

"Why am I so unpopular?" she asked, citing her total. "I guess I'm pretty boring. I just go back to my office and work instead of dining."

But as a first-term lawmaker last year, May said she did make a point to socialize at the many receptions and meetings held in Springfield by the larger lobbying firms. In all, special interest groups spent $811,000 on such events last year.

For example, the Illinois AFL-CIO, one of the state's most powerful labor unions, shelled out just over $22,000 on a reception in September.

Lobbying trinkets include everything from wall calendars to mini tool kits to free tickets to Chicago museums. State Sen. Wendell Jones, a Palatine Republican, received a leather vest valued at $217 from a leading motorcycling lobbying group.

Last year, the Illinois Pork Producers gave all 177 lawmakers two free tickets for food at the Illinois State Fair's "pork patio."

But exactly who accepted the tickets and invitations to such large events is not detailed in the reports - only that they happened and the overall cost. For example, it's not known which lawmakers received free manicures and hair styling from the Illinois Association of Cosmetology Schools.

Every year the association sets up shop for a day in the Capitol building and offers lawmakers and their staffs the services of nearly 100 cosmetology students.

"I never knew so many men got manicures," said Carol Frederick, who helps run the event.