Lawmakers Find It Pays to Speak Their Minds

Top legislative leaders have demonstrated once again their ability to attract substantial speaking income, much of it from organizations with a strong interest in issues before the Legislature, according to financial disclosure reports made public Tuesday.

Heading the list was Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), who reported receiving $48,550 for speeches last year--an amount easily exceeding the $33,732 annual salary paid to legislators.

His biggest fee was $5,000 from National Medical Enterprises, a Los Angeles-based hospital chain that made hefty payments for speeches to several other legislators last year. On a long list of speaking fees that included payments from business groups, trade associations and nonprofit foundations, Brown also reported receiving $3,000 from the National Assn. of Tobacco Distributors and $3,000 from J. C. Penney Co.

Top state officials and legislators are required by law to submit annual financial reports that are intended to reveal potential conflicts of interest. Unlike campaign contributions, speaking fees are direct income for legislators and are subject to taxation.

Brown has a reputation for delivering a dynamic, entertaining speech, as does Sen. William Campbell (R-Hacienda Heights), who reported receiving $38,400 in speaking fees in 1985. Among those paying for Campbell’s speeches were Traweek Ltd., a Marina del Rey real estate development company, and Frawley Corp., a health care firm.

However, some organizations were willing to pay top dollar to legislative leaders who are not widely known for their oratorical abilities.

Senate Republican Leader James W. Nielsen of Woodland, for example, was paid $27,575 for speeches last year, including $10,000 from Empire Disposal Co. of Santa Rosa for two appearances. He also reported receiving $2,500 from the California Trucking Assn. and $2,000 from National Medical Enterprises.

Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) reported receiving $25,350 in honorariums last year, including $2,500 from National Medical Enterprises as a “participant, luncheon discussion.” He was also paid $3,000 for a speech before the California Manufacturers Assn. and $2,500 for speaking to the California Optometric Political Action Committee.

Among the other legislative leaders well paid for speeches was Assembly Republican Leader Pat Nolan of Glendale, who received $21,650 in honorariums last year.

Among those who heard Nolan speak was Seagram Classics Wine Co., which paid $2,500; the Construction Industry Advancement Fund, $2,000; and the Assn. of California Insurance Cos., $2,000. Such organizations routinely lobby legislation in Sacramento and contribute to lawmakers’ election campaigns.

Oil, Education

Assemblywoman Maxine Waters of Los Angeles, the Assembly Democrats’ caucus chairwoman, reported receiving $28,525 for speeches, including $2,500 from Atlantic-Richfield Co. and $2,000 from Spelman College in Atlanta.

On their financial disclosure statements, legislators are also required to disclose gifts, outside income and property holdings in addition to honorariums for making speeches.

In their latest filings, many listed domestic and overseas travel paid for by business groups, trade unions or foreign governments.

For example, Brown received $1,300 from the Federal Republic of Germany and $1,200 from an Italian trade union for travel and accommodations on a European tour last September.

A U.S.-Italian exchange group paid $7,576 for Roberti and his wife to travel to Italy last October. He visits Italy about once a year, usually as a guest of various organizations.

Variety of Countries

Other legislators reported trips to China, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Caribbean. Among them were Sen. Herschel Rosenthal (D-Los Angeles), who reported a $5,500 expenses-paid trip to China; Sen. John Seymour (R-Anaheim), who received a $1,700 trip to Jamaica for the California Apartment Assn.’s annual convention; and Sen. Joseph B. Montoya (D-Whittier), who went on a $2,600 trip to the Caribbean to inspect medical schools and a $2,000 trip to Germany paid for by a number of business firms.

The lawmakers also reported receiving gifts from a number of sources. The largest was the use of Columbia Pictures’ corporate jet--a gift worth $14,800--reported by Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica). Hayden also listed the extensive financial interests that he and his wife, actress Jane Fonda, own jointly, including three film production companies worth more than $100,000 each. (The lawmakers are not required to specify exact amounts of their outside holdings.)

Speaker Brown also listed sources of outside income, much of it from the law practice he maintains while he serves in the Legislature. Brown also reported selling four cars, each worth more than $10,000, a Volkswagen and a motorbike worth less than $1,000.