Utility lobbyist takes turn in spotlight at Ryan trial
By Mike Robinson
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
12/18/2005

CHICAGO -- When Wisconsin Energy Corp. wanted permission to build an Illinois power plant and needed a lobbyist, the company turned to former state Sen. Arthur "Ron" Swanson.

Swanson, an old hand in Springfield who set up a lobbying office across the street from the Capitol when his Senate days were over, seemed just the man for the job.

Who thought so? George Ryan, then governor of Illinois.

Ryan was the one who picked Swanson, according to testimony last week at Ryan's racketeering and fraud trial.

"Give it to Swanson," lobbyist Donald Udstuen testified that Ryan said when he was asked who might represent the Wisconsin utility before the governor's Environmental Protection Agency.

The Ryan trial, now entering its 13th week, has focused the spotlight on how a small network of well-connected lobbyists and their friends wielded huge power in Springfield.

Jurors are likely to hear a good bit more on the topic when court resumes today.

Ryan, 71, and lobbyist friend Larry Warner, 67, are charged with racketeering, mail fraud and other offenses. The indictment says that Ryan steered big-money state contracts and leases to an elite circle of friends and lobbyists and received free vacations and gifts in exchange.

Ryan and Warner insist that nothing they did was illegal.

Jurors may not get the case until March. Meanwhile, Illinois is getting a glimpse into the world of cash, clout and well-heeled clients.

"There are lots of honorable lobbyists," says Kent Redfield, a University of Illinois at Springfield political scientist who specializes in studying activities at the Capitol.

"But when you get that kind of insider, good-old-boy network, it opens you up for all kinds of corruption," Redfield said.

Udstuen, awaiting his sentence for tax fraud conspiracy, told the jury about the inner workings of Ryan's administration.

He said he first became aware that Wisconsin Energy was looking for a lobbyist when he got a call from a longtime friend, Nicholas Hurtgen, who was an aide to Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson.

Udstuen said he floated Swanson's name to Ryan, who picked the former senator.

And Udstuen said Swanson later slipped him an envelope stuffed with $4,000 in cash in the basement men's room of a Chicago restaurant to say thanks for the referral.

Udstuen said he later returned the money.

Wisconsin Energy has not been accused of wrongdoing.