Legislators Tap Sacramento Interests for Campaign Cash

By Shane Goldmacher

State lawmakers returned to the Capitol this week to finish off the legislative year, but legislating isn't the only task they'll be up to in August. For just about everybody, it's time to renew a classic Sacramento pastime: raising big-time campaign cash.

This month, there are more than 100 fund-raisers scheduled for almost every would-be and current lawmaker in the state, according to invitations obtained by Capitol Weekly.

"Sometimes there are 15 of these in a day," complains one veteran lobbyist, who notes that the glut of events is nothing new. "For the month of August, we don't see our family and, for some, access to a private life is suspended. Under the current system, they have to ask, and we have to contribute."

The rush of events coincides--not coincidentally--with a three-week sprint in which the Legislature will decide of the fate of more than 1,500 bills, from building new prisons to curbing greenhouse-gas emissions.

The fund-raising blitz peaks on August 16, when legislators and legislative hopefuls play host to at least 20 different events across town. The largesse-filled day begins at 7:30 a.m. with Assemblyman Dennis Mountjoy, R-Monrovia, and ends at 9 p.m. at Gallagher's, with Assemblyman Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto. The price tag to attend all the day's events tops $23,000.

That Wednesday, the number of events in Sacramento outstrips the usual fund-raiser locations, so Chops, a regular Capitol watering hole, will host simultaneous fund-raisers for Assemblyman Guy Houston, R-Livermore, and Assembly candidate Anna Caballero, a Democrat.

The same is true for the previous night. And the following Tuesday, there are a trio of different breakfast fund-raisers scheduled at the Sheraton Grand--at the same time.

Tim Hodson, executive director of the Center for California Studies, calls August "a perverse window of opportunity for fund-raising," as it is one of the few times that legislators hold the undivided attention of moneyed interests.

The convergence of contributors cutting checks and legislators casting votes invariably leads to questions of ethical misconduct, says Hodson.

"The perception of wrongdoing, the perception of corruption, can be as corrosive as corruption itself," says Hodson, who spent 20 years working in the Capitol. "There is a problem with holding so many fund-raisers in so short a time when so many bills will be decided."

Under California's campaign-finance laws, donations to legislators are limited to $3,300 for the primary and general elections. But most events comes with a minimum price tag of $1,000.

A sampling of the invitations shows that legislators look for just about every conceivable reason to host a fund-raiser.

One of the most common is the birthday bash. This month alone, Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, R-Cathedral City, Assemblyman Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, Sen. Elaine Alquist, D-Santa Clara, Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco, and Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, are holding birthday events.

Maldonado actually is hosting two birthday parties--a week apart--though neither falls on his official birthday. In fact, none of the legislative "birthday bashes" are scheduled on actual birthdays of legislators. Some legislators lean on their culture or personal history to lure donors.

Anthony Portantino, an Italian Democrat and Los Angelides Assembly candidate, invites would-be supporters to "a taste of Italy." Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, invites donors to watch a theatrical play about two brothers one of whom, "'Gilbert,' is an ambitious state senator." from Los Angeles.

Cedillo, who "normally has one or two events at the end of session," says the play is a "composite" of himself and "several other L.A. lawmakers."

Other legislators wine and dine contributors at restaurants of their ethnic background. There are three August fund-raisers at Frank Fat's, a Chinese-food restaurant and longtime Capitol haunt. Each of the three events is hosted by an Chinese-American candidate: Fiona Ma, Betty Yee and Assemblywoman Wilma Chan.

Two blocks away, at Texas Mexican restaurant, there are also three August events--all hosted by Latinos: Assemblyman Joe Baca Jr., Tony Mendoza and Jose Solorio.

Still, other legislators create district-related themes for their fund-raisers, such as Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa, who is hosting "an evening with outstanding Napa Valley wine and delicious food" on August 15.

Ironically, many big-time donors privately say they can't stand the contrived fund-raiser themes that legislators work so hard to concoct.

"Lobbyists are not interested in themes. They are not interested in being entertained," says a veteran Capitol lobbyist. "They are interested in getting in, making contact with the elected official present, sharing and picking up intelligence, and moving on."

He adds, "The worst nightmare are the river cruises. Arriving at the dock and finding out you are going to trapped on a boat with bad food and people you just spent all day with is too much."

The vast majority of August fund-raisers take place within walking distance of the Capitol. The most popular destinations are the Sheraton Hotel, Spataro and the Esquire Grill, with 12, 11 and 10 events, respectively. The Sheraton and Spataro are more bipartisan locations, while nine of the 10 Esquire events are Republican-sponsored.

Other hot spots include Pyramid Brewery (eight events), the Smith Gallery (six), Chops (five) and Gallagher's (five).

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has two Sacramento events, including one slated to feature former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Democratic challenger Phil Angelides held an event in Sacramento Wednesday, featuring former NBA star Earvin "Magic" Johnson.

Some of the busiest legislators this August are the Democratic leadership, who jump from event to event of members--and potential members--of their caucuses, besides hosting their own events. Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles, and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, each are on the hook to attend at least four events of fellow Democrats, according invitations obtained.

On the evening August 14, Perata is actually slated to attend simultaneous functions for Chan, who hopes to succeed him in the Senate, and for former Los Angeles Assemblyman Rod Wright, another Democratic Senate hopeful, who Perata employs in his Los Angeles office.

The presence of either Perata or Núñez at a campaign soiree is a coup for any legislator, as it indicates a close relationship with the leader, an important signal for outside groups on the fence about donating.

Using the final month of the legislative session to bolster campaign war chests is nothing new, say Capitol observers, but the practice is particularly prevalent this year.

Hodson says the relationship between donors and legislators--and money and politics--is far more complex that a simple caricature.

"If you want to paint it in a simplistic, paint-by-the-numbers way, then it simply is legislators shaking down for money," says Hodson. "But what about a member who, before being elected, was an environmentalist … and holds a fund-raiser where they invite environmentalists? Are they selling out their vote to environmentalists, or are they going to allies and saying in order to fight our battles I need money to be re-elected?"

(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.)