Friday Mailbag - Freebies Follow Up

Steve Sovern, who served as a state senator in the mid-1970s, sent me his thoughtfull reflections after my Tuesday columnon legislative freebies:

I thought you might appreciate knowing former legislator's experience with the freebie phenomena. I served in the Senate for a brief period in the mid-70s.

Before beginning my service, I talked with a couple of former legislators about life in the big city. The stand out in that group was former Sen. John Ely. I'm sure you know about John. He was an exemplary citizen in all ways. John talked about the logic of paying your own way, as you point out in your column. It simply makes no sense to double dip for dinners. The taxpayers provide an adequate expense account for out-of-town legislators to keep themselves fed. Yet they can easily survive at the nightly trough set out by the many groups who have an ax to grind in the legislative halls. So, I followed John's lead. I took no freebies. Turns out, I was the only other legislator to do so.

I would attend the parties when it seemed useful to connect with constituents or hear the pitch of the many legitimate interest groups. The sponsor's, lobbyist would always grumble about having to figure out my portion of the shindig's cost. But, I always felt so good when either supporting or opposing that groups subsequent legislative push. I would never have to stop and figure out how it would look or the degree to which I might have actually been influenced by free New York strip and a single malt. More important, was the signal it sent to my Linn County constituents. They wouldn't have to buy me a steak dinner to get my ear. The hardest part of my decision was giving up free tickets to Des Moines movie theaters and Iowa Hawkeye games. However, when Max Hawkins, the renowned University of Iowa lobbyist wanted my support, I didn't have to worry that my constituents might have seen me in Max's courtside seats the week before.

This seamy system finally hit a big iceberg at Mingo a few years after my service. You remember, all the legislators were in the kitchen when Rep. Sturgeon was assisting the entertainers? I recalled the two lobbyists that organized that particular event from my days in Des Moines. A few of us knew them as the “Fox” and the “Wolf.” They were always available in the cloak room to generate “fun” times for Members. They were also known, incidentally, as the two most effective lobbyists in the rotunda. Banks happen to be one of their clients.

Reforms surfaced subsequent to that embarrassing event. As I recall, there was a significant stretch during which lobbyists were limited to the purchase of a cup of coffee to assuage their targets. I'm not sure what happened to those reforms. Money just seems to have a way of finding the hole in the dike.

Here's an interesting remnant of my experience with lobbyists back in the 70s. There is a gathering of has-been solons during each session put on by a group called the Pioneer Lawmakers. I attended a couple of times over the years but had the same discomfort as my legislating days. There were as many pioneer lobbyists as lawmakers. While these folks are all nice, congenial and good company it just seemed to me symbolic of a relationship that is too cozy for good government. What's more, I was never sure who was footing the bill for that dinner either.