Cranston, Wilson Report Financial Data

In moonlighting speeches made mostly to special-interest groups, Sen. Pete Wilson (R-Calif.) supplemented his $75,100 congressional salary by $31,000 last year. Sen. Alan Cranston (D-Calif.) supplemented his by $18,000, according to financial disclosure statements released Monday.

The statements, which list 1986 income and holdings, generally in broad ranges of value, are required of high government officials to identify possible conflicts of interest.

They show that Cranston, who has large real estate holdings, remains a millionaire, with assets ranging from $1,065,000 to more than $1,291,000. Wilson, whose affluence soared when he remarried four years ago, has assets ranging from $530,000 to more than $955,000.

Most members of Congress boost their income with speech-making honorariums. Although lawmakers claim that the engagements provide a valuable forum for two-way communication, the practice is criticized in some quarters because the money usually comes from special-interest groups seeking access and influence. Unlike campaign contributions, which go to a committee to pay for political expenses, speaking fees go directly to lawmakers for personal use.

Wilson, seeking reelection next year to a second term, charged $1,000 or $2,000 to make speeches to such groups as the California Federal Savings & Loan Assn., the California Bankers Assn., the Wine Institute, the American Podiatric Medical Assn., the American Frozen Food Institute, the American Hardware Manufacturers Assn., the California Restaurant Assn. and Paine Webber Inc.

He also spoke to such groups as the Guardians of the Jewish Homes for the Aged, Biola College, Santa Monica College Associates and Stanford University’s Center for Economic Policy Research.

Most groups also paid travel expenses for Wilson and his wife, Gayle, who often accompanied him.

In addition, Wilson collected $1,823.17 for writing articles, which brought his honorarium total to $32,832.17. The senator donated $3,600 to charity, apparently to meet last year’s Senate honorarium limit of $30,040 (40% of salary).

Cranston won reelection to a fourth term last year and holds the powerful position of Senate Democratic whip. In 1986, he earned $2,000 each for speeches he made to at least six groups that had an interest in legislation before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, on which Cranston serves as the second-ranking Democrat. Those groups were Kidder, Peabody & Co., Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc., Paine Webber, Transamerica Occidental Life, the Bond Club of Los Angeles and the Capital Group.

“These groups want to hear about legislation affecting them, so it is logical that they would invite as a speaker a member of Congress who is knowledgeable,” said Cranston’s press secretary, Murray Flander. “And, on the other side, the senator wants to get a sense of what his constituents or constituent groups are concerned about.”

Cranston also made speeches to the Naegele Outdoor Advertising Co., American Assn. of Retired Persons and MCA Inc.

Most of the assets and income reported by Wilson were identified as his wife’s. These included Anheuser Busch stock valued at more than $250,000; a Washington residence, part of which is rented, $100,000 to $250,000; a money market certificate, $100,000 to $250,000, and a second deed of trust on an Irving, Tex., apartment complex she sold in 1984, $50,000 to $100,000.

Assets listed only in the senator’s name were a savings account, $1,000 to $5,000; an individual retirement account, $5,000 to $15,000; a money market account, $1,000 to $5,000, and a state retirement pension, $5,000 to $15,000.

Liabilities were two mortgages in the $65,000 to $150,000 range.

Cranston’s main holdings are about $400,000 in commercial properties that date to his involvement in a family real estate business in the 1940s. Other listed holdings include residences in Washington and Los Angeles, $268,000; two blind trusts, more than $265,000; a mutual fund, $50,000 to $100,000, and a savings account, $50,000 to $100,000.

Liabilities were a loan to his son, Kim, $15,000 to $50,000, and a mortgage, $50,000 to $100,000.