Gift limit not slowing lobbyist spending
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Lawmaker says measure passed last year has raised 'consciousness' about giving, accepting perks
2/8/2008 - 2/9/08
The Legislature passed a bill last year meant to limit the amount of money lobbyists spend on gifts, meals and drinks for New Mexico's citizen lawmakers.However, expense reports filed during the current session show little, if any, slowdown in gifts, parties and meals. During the past two weeks, there has been a steady stream of expensive social events in Santa Fe, including at least two $20,000 dinners hosted by industry organizations for legislators, staff and other state officials.
And it's not just bar and restaurant tabs that cause lobbyists to write checks for thousands of dollars. For instance, lawmakers were treated to more than $3,000 worth of cookies from Santa Fe Baking Co. on Jan. 23, courtesy of Mark Padilla of Molina Healthcare.
Has the Gift Act made a difference in the New Mexico Legislature?
"Not to me," Randy Traynor, lobbyist for the New Mexico Automobile Dealers Association and several other business organizations, said Friday. "I just report it like I always do."
Traynor's only expense reported so far during the session was $20,000 for an annual "industry dinner" for car dealers and lawmakers at Eldorado Hotel on Jan. 23. "I think they've been doing this for about 35 years," he said.
The car dealers' dinner was only the second-most expensive social event reported so far this session, which ends this week. The first was a Feb. 5 dinner and reception for legislators, staff and others at Eldorado Hotel sponsored by the New Mexico Mining Association. According to a report filed by Mike Bowen, that dinner, which also is an annual event, cost $20,467.
The Gift Act limits gift-giving by lobbyists to individual legislators to items that are valued at no more than $250.
Rep. Gail Chasey, D-Albuquerque, who helped sponsor the Gift Act, said Friday that even though lobbyists continue to shell out money during the session and provide lots of free food for legislators, staff and others, she believes there is "greater consciousness" about giving and accepting gifts. "The intent was not to restrict people from having social events," she said in an interview.
Traynor, the auto dealers' lobbyist, said if there's been any effect from the Gift Act, it might be fewer dinners for legislative committees paid for by lobbyists. "Usually some other lobbyists will hit me up to pay for some committee dinner," he said, "but that hasn't happened so far this session."
Only one committee dinner showed up in the latest batch of lobbyist reports. Jerry Walker, representing the Association of Commerce and Industry and Independent Community Bankers of New Mexico, reported spending $1,714 for a reception and dinner Monday for the House Rules Committee at the Rio Chama Steakhouse.
However, dinners for committees and other events sometimes don't show up in the reports if several lobbyists split the tab and each one's share comes out to less than $500. Lobbyists are required to report expenses of more than $500 within 48 hours after the event.
Other lobbyist reports from the past two weeks revealed:
- Fred Ocheskey, a lobbyist for the Williams Co. — a Tulsa, Okla.-based energy and communications company — spent $12,786 on a Jan. 24 reception at the Inn at Loretto.
- Bob Gallagher, president of the New Mexico Oil & Gas Association, reported spending $7,963 on a Jan. 30 cocktail reception at the Bull Ring for legislators.
- Thom Turbert of Independent Insurance Agents of New Mexico, reported spending $7,746 on a "Legislative Mixer" at Eldorado Hotel on Jan. 31.
- Scott Smart of Eastern New Mexico University reported spending $7,206 on a "meet and greet" with legislators and staff on Jan. 16 at the Inn at Loretto.
- Sonia Phillips of Xcel Energy of Roswell, reported spending $5,944 for a Jan. 29 reception and dinner at La Posada attended by Reps. Anna Crook, R-Clovis; Dub Williams, R-Glencoe; Nora Espinoza, R-Roswell; Dan Foley, R-Roswell; Bill Rehm, R-Albuquerque, and his wife; Candy Spence-Ezzel, R-Roswell, and her husband; and Sens. Steve Neville, R-Farmington; Steve Komadina, R-Corrales; and Leonard Lee Rawson, R-Las Cruces, and his wife. The cost per person, according to the report, was $118.
- Charles Bowyer of the National Education Association of New Mexico reported spending $5,421 on a reception for the governor and his staff, the Legislature and its staff and NEA members at the NEA Building on Botulph Road.
- Carter Bundy of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, reported spending $4,142 for a Jan. 31 reception at the Inn at Loretto for AFSCME members on "Lobby Day" at the Legislature.
- Martin Trujillo, a lobbyist for Farmers Insurance, spent $2,088 on a luncheon at the Inn at Loretto on Jan. 24, plus another $549 on bus transportation to the event. Trujillo also reported spending another $1,133 on gift bags — including coffee mugs, paper-clip holders and key tags — for legislators.
- Daniel Rakes of Angel Fire Resort spent $2,418 on a reception and dinner at the Bull Ring on Jan. 24. The event was sponsored by the resort as well as the village of Angel Fire and the Angel Fire Chamber of Commerce.
- J.D. Bullington, a lobbyist for several clients, reported spending $2,062 for a reception at the Rio Chama Steakhouse attended by 60 people. Legislators who attended were specifically listed. They included Sens. Cynthia Nava, D-Las Cruces; Shannon Robinson, D-Albuquerque; Diane Snyder, R-Albuquerque; Joe Carraro, R-Albuquerque; and Leonard Lee Rawson, R-Las Cruces.
- Anne Wagner of Chevron Mining Co. reported spending $956 for an annual luncheon honoring women in the Legislature. The luncheon was at the Rio Chama Steakhouse on Jan. 16.
- Ruth Hoffman of the Rocky Mountain Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America reported spending $759 on a "Bishop's Luncheon" at La Fonda.
- Eli Lee of the Center for Civic Policy reported spending $714 Monday at the Anasazi Restaurant for a "policy briefing" attended by Reps. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe; Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque; Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces; Nathan Cote, D-Las Cruces; and staff.