Election victors reaping rewards
Posted on 11/16/2002 4:26:58 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
Election victors reaping rewards
Austin lobbyist Toomey appointed to be Perry's chief of staff
11/16/2002
AUSTIN - The election last week brought a big victory for Texas Republicans, and it continues to pay dividends for top state business lobbyists, too.
AP Mike Toomey |
Mike Toomey of Austin became the latest of several lobbyists to land important assignments in the highest reaches of state government with his appointment Friday as Gov. Rick Perry's chief of staff.
Earlier in the week, House Speaker-apparent Tom Craddick selected two lobbyists as part of a three-member team to help prepare for his election as presiding officer when the GOP-dominated Legislature convenes in January.
It is a situation that has alarmed consumer and public watchdog groups, while one political expert described it as a "dance of joy in the end zone" for Republicans fresh from their victories in the elections.
To the victors of either party have always gone the spoils - including powerful appointments, said Dr. Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University.
"The Republicans have complete sway, and they are turning to their traditional supporters for advice and counsel," he said.
Tom "Smitty" Smith, Texas director of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, said lobbyists "are taking over state government."
"It basically means the lobbyists have the run of the House, the Senate, the governor's office, and that those interests they have represented in the past become the priority issues of the leadership of the state of Texas," he said.
Critics fear the lobbyist appointees will exert undue influence over the major issues facing lawmakers in January, including relief from soaring homeowners insurance rates, tort reform, environmental concerns and a big budget deficit.
Others say Mr. Smith is overreacting.
"I don't think it's a legitimate concern at all," said Kathy Walt, the governor's press secretary. "Historically, there have been lobbyists who have left practices to go to work for governors and lieutenant governors and speakers of the house.
"It's just nothing new."
More lobbyists
Mr. Toomey, 52, succeeds Mike McKinney, who resigned Wednesday. Mr. Perry also reportedly is considering another influential lobbyist, Cliff Johnson, for an important post in his administration.
All three of the transition team members tapped for work by Mr. Craddick - Bill Messer and Bill Miller, both of Austin, and former Dallas state Rep. Bill Ceverha - have ties to the insurance industry.
In addition to his transition team members, Mr. Craddick is reportedly considering a business lobbyist for his chief of staff. And Lt. Gov.-elect David Dewhurst also is believed to have several lobbyists under consideration for high positions.
Mr. Craddick has declined to speak to reporters since announcing that he had more than enough votes to become speaker in January. Mr. Miller, Mr. Messer and Mr. Ceverha also could not be reached for comment.
With the Nov. 5 election, Republicans managed not only to hold on to all of the top statewide, nonjudicial offices, but also increased their majority in the Senate and won control of the 150-member House for the first time in more than a century.
It is not that unusual for elected officials to turn to lobbyists for help, but what makes this year different is the number of lobbyists who have been called on or are under consideration for top jobs, observers say.
Former Gov. George W. Bush had two lobbyists on his staff during his first term to help with the Legislature.
Speaker Pete Laney's top assistant, Barry Miller, previously lobbied.
Just days before his appointment, Mr. Toomey reportedly teamed up with two other lobbyists, Mr. Messer and Ellen Williams, to form The Texas Lobby Group. "This just gives him a place to park his clients while he is on the governor's payroll," one lobbyist said.
Ms. Walt said Mr. Toomey, who declined to talk to reporters, is turning over his clients "to someone else, but he is severing all business ties immediately."
Mr. Perry said Mr. Toomey would be bound by the governor's "stringent ethics and revolving door policy," which bans staffers from lobbying the office for one year plus one legislative session after leaving their job.
Mr. Toomey listed a diverse clientele on his latest state-mandated lobby disclosure form, including tobacco, food and beer conglomerate Phillip Morris USA and affiliated companies; insurance providers Cigna Corp., Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. and USA managed care; drug makers Merck and Abbott Laboratories; utilities and communication firms including AT&T and Southern Union Gas.
Also on the list were industry associations for hotel operators, bowling alleys, and optometrists; and the tort reform group Texans for Lawsuit Reform. At least two of Mr. Toomey's clients, ACS and Image API, are computer vendors that earn substantial portions of their revenue from government contracts.
Many of his clients or their political action committees have been among Mr. Perry's larger campaign contributors.
In announcing the appointment, Mr. Perry said Mr. Toomey brings "extraordinary experience and expertise" to the job.
'Important addition'
"With his expertise in state budget and legislative matters, Mike will be an important addition to my team as we work with the Legislature in making fiscally responsible decisions," he said.
Mr. Toomey, who also previously served as chief of staff for Gov. Bill Clements, has a friendship with Mr. Perry that goes back many years. The two were roommates when both served in the House in the 1980s. When Mr. Perry sold a piece of real estate to computer magnate Michael Dell in 1995, he gave Mr. Toomey power-of-attorney to sign the closing papers on his behalf.
As a lobbyist for health insurance and tort reform interest in the 2001 session, Mr. Toomey pushed successfully for Mr. Perry to veto the so-called "prompt pay" bill, a measure sought by doctors that would have beefed up insurance companies' obligation to quickly compensate health care providers.
Hard times ahead?
Mr. Smith said Texans could expect hard times ahead because of the business lobby's influence in Austin.
"It means that the government is going to be run by the biggest insurance companies, polluters and utilities in the state," he said.
"It probably is going to mean higher insurance bills, fewer rights when you're injured and need to go to court, and potentially significant changes in the pollution laws that will affect your ability to breathe in Texas."
Suzy Woodford, executive director of the consumer advocacy group Common Cause of Texas, said she is particularly worried that the transition team members will recommend for committee assignments members who are friendly to their clients, including insurance companies.
With legislation to curb soaring homeowner insurance rates high on the agenda when lawmakers return to Austin next year, she wants to make sure that consumer's interests are protected.
The state is locked in a dispute with Farmers, the state's second-largest property insurer. A lawsuit accuses the company of engaging in deceptive and discriminatory business practices and of overcharging customers by as much as $140 million - charges that Farmers denies.
Mr. Miller, a partner in Hillco Partners, a high profile Austin lobby and political consulting firm is a paid spokesman for Farmers Insurance and Mr. Messer represents State Farm Insurance.
Mr. Ceverha is treasurer of Texans for a Republican Majority, a political action committee reportedly controlled by Mr. Craddick that provided tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to Republicans supporting him for speaker.
Last-minute donation
Farmers donated $150,000 to the committee three weeks before the election through its political action committee.
Ms. Woodford and Mr. Smith have publicly called on Mr. Craddick to issue an order prohibiting the transition team members or members of his staff from lobbying his office after they leave their jobs.
They said that former Gov. George W. Bush and Speaker Laney, who Mr. Craddick will replace, had such "revolving door" policies banning employees from lobbying their offices when they leave their jobs.
E-mail gkuempel@dallasnews.com
"Historically, there have been lobbyists who have left practices to go to work for governors and lieutenant governors and speakers of the house. It's just nothing new."
Kathy Walt, the governor's press secretary
Note to the Dallas Morning News: Would you like some cheese with that Whine?
Excerpt:
It is a situation that has alarmed consumer and public watchdog groups, while one political expert described it as a "dance of joy in the end zone" for Republicans fresh from their victories in the elections.
To the victors of either party have always gone the spoils - including powerful appointments, said Dr. Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University.
"The Republicans have complete sway, and they are turning to their traditional supporters for advice and counsel," he said.
Tom "Smitty" Smith, Texas director of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, said lobbyists "are taking over state government."
"It basically means the lobbyists have the run of the House, the Senate, the governor's office, and that those interests they have represented in the past become the priority issues of the leadership of the state of Texas," he said.
Critics fear the lobbyist appointees will exert undue influence over the major issues facing lawmakers in January, including relief from soaring homeowners insurance rates, tort reform, environmental concerns and a big budget deficit.
< snip >
"With his expertise in state budget and legislative matters, Mike will be an important addition to my team as we work with the Legislature in making fiscally responsible decisions," [Perry] said.
Mr. Toomey, who also previously served as chief of staff for Gov. Bill Clements, has a friendship with Mr. Perry that goes back many years. The two were roommates when both served in the House in the 1980s. When Mr. Perry sold a piece of real estate to computer magnate Michael Dell in 1995, he gave Mr. Toomey power-of-attorney to sign the closing papers on his behalf.
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