Lobbyists Scurry to Win Final Points as Legislative Adjournment Nears

As the two-year legislative session rushes to a close this week, Capitol lobbyists are working hard to earn the fat salaries they are paid to influence action on hundreds of bills their clients want--or don’t want.

They also are investing in their own futures because a good won-and-lost record on bills is the best way for lobbyists to ensure that their contracts are renewed or that they land a big raise for next year.

Lobbying is big business in the Capitol. There is every reason to believe that lobbying expenditures this year will break the record set in 1985 when, according to the state Fair Political Practices Commission, $74 million was spent to influence the Legislature and other state agencies. This was nearly four times the $19 million spent to lobby state government only 10 years earlier.

“What most people don’t realize is that there still are 120 legislators, but almost 800 lobbyists,” said Phillip H. Schott, a veteran lobbyist and former top legislative aide. “The third house (lobbyist corps) has grown like wildfire and that has contributed to the boiler room-type pressure around here in the last days.”

Since the lawmakers returned from summer vacation recess on Aug. 11, many of the 765 registered lobbyists say they have been putting in 12- to 16-hour days. They jam the halls outside the chambers while floor sessions are going on. They have sergeants-at-arms take business cards inside to summon lawmakers outside for whispered vote conferences. Capitol phone booths are seldom empty.

Some lobbyists start their days having breakfast with other lobbyists to plot strategy on bills in which they have a mutual interest. Other lobbyists--who were friends earlier in the year--become enemies over pending bills because of competing clients.

Nighttime Activities

Nights following the busy days are filled with campaign fund-raising cocktail parties thrown by legislators. Lobbyists know they are expected to buy tickets and attend--or risk the chance of losing their bills.

This is what is known as “fun-and-games time” with the session scheduled to end this Friday, although it probably will run over well into the Labor Day weekend.

Previously “dead” bills are miraculously revived by amending their contents into other bills--a process sometimes called “highjacking.” Conference committees try to find compromises on complex issues. All-day floor sessions drone on into the evening hours.

Bills either get passed or defeated at the end of a session. There is no tomorrow for a lobbyist to work on a bill for a client. Or against one either.

Losses become a wait-until-next-year proposition, which doesn’t please the clients who sign the lobbyists’ paychecks. “You like to wind up a session successfully,” said Dennis E. Carpenter, a top lobbyist and a former Republican state senator from Orange County, “so your clients are satisfied and you feel good. Then they’ll hire you again next year and you’ll both be happy.”

Highest-Paid Firm

Last year, Carpenter, Zenovich & Associates was the highest-paid lobbying firm in the capital, receiving almost $957,166 from clients for its services, according to the FPPC.

Carpenter’s partner is George N. Zenovich, a former District Court of Appeal judge and a former Democratic state senator and assemblyman from Fresno.

One of the reasons they are so successful is they are members of the so-called ex-legislators “club” with excellent access to lawmakers of both political parties.

Both men said they like the fast pace of the last days of the session.

“It’s fun, it’s exciting, it’s why we are up here,” Carpenter said. “I love it. But it’s not very tidy and the time for deliberations on some issues is too short.”

“It’s more fun than being a judge--and it pays better, too,” Zenovich said. “You go over there and sweat out votes. You never know what’s going to happen until it happens.”

Carpenter and Zenovich currently have about 15 significant measures still pending. They are working on bills relating to Orange County and Fresno County affairs, mutual funds, horse racing and the state lottery for some of their clients.

Vacation Plans

Carpenter, whose wife, Aleta, also works for the lobbying firm, said they have plans to go to Alaska for a fishing vacation and some rest when the session is over.

The FPPC reported the next five highest-paid state capital lobbying firms in 1985 were Advocation Inc., $951,228; A-K Associates Inc., $914,265; Clayton R. Jackson & Co., $866,129; George R. Steffes Inc., $631,498, and Paul Priolo Inc., $558,475.

Priolo, former Republican Assembly minority floor leader from Santa Monica, also has an estimated 15 bills left that are still up in the air, relating to such subjects as hospital liability, certification and licensing procedures and rent control. Other clients include Pepperdine University and Mars Candy.

“Frankly, these are some of my most important bills of the two-year session,” Priolo said. “It’s critical to be able to show a good won-and-lost record when you review things with your clients and prepare for next year.”

Anticipating his final score card, the lobbyist said, “I’m smiling right now, but cautiously.”

Bedroom in Office

Priolo’s office, located across the street from Capitol Park, includes a bedroom where he sleeps three nights a week. “Being a lobbyist is tougher work than being a legislator,” he said. “There’s no question about that. It’s much more intense and there are many competing forces for every legislator’s attention. It takes a lot of effort at this time of the year.”

The dean of the Sacramento lobbying corps is James D. Garibaldi, 80, who has been seeking votes for and against bills since 1945.

“One of the nicest things about the last days of the session is that they are the last days of the session,” Garibaldi said.

He also differed with his colleagues on the importance of the won-and-lost record chalked up in the last-minute rush before the session ends.

Overall Performance

“You are judged by your overall performance.” Garibaldi said, “Not only by this session, but by all the years that you’ve been representing a client.”