Investigation of Legislator Is Reopened

The state’s political watchdog agency has rejected a proposed plea arrangement with Assemblyman Jim Battin (R-La Quinta) and reopened the investigation of his acceptance of gifts, including $3,000 in free hotel accommodations.

Fair Political Practices Commission Chairman James Hall told a commission meeting Thursday that he had a “credibility problem” with Battin’s explanation, and could not support the agreement.

The FPPC voted unanimously to postpone action on the plea arrangement, which would have resulted in an $8,000 fine against Battin and an admission of gross negligence.

Battin’s attorney, Steven Lucas, argued against any postponement.

But Hall told investigators to get more details about the lawmaker’s accommodations in January and February 1995 at two downtown Sacramento hotels paid for by Los Angeles businessman Stephen Tobia, co-founder of Pacific West Communications, a public relations and consulting company.

Hall said Battin’s explanation of how he came to accept the $3,000 in free hotel accommodations, as well as a $509 suit from Mark Abrams, a Pacific West executive, “sounds very much like something that was cooked up after the fact.”

William Deaver, another member of the commission, said: “I’ve been in politics a long time. I completely fail to understand why these people keep doing these stupid things over and over.”

Battin, who received tax-free living expenses during the period in question, did not appear at Thursday’s hearing in Sacramento. Contacted at his legislative office in Palm Desert, the two-term assemblyman said he did nothing wrong.

“I told them the truth and that’s what happened,” Battin said. “I can’t change my story to make them feel better about it.”

Battin had told FPPC staff that the hotel accommodations were provided to him after he had arranged to rent an apartment from Tobia, but the apartment deal fell through.

As for the free suit, Battin had told the FPPC staff that he was fitted for a suit at a downtown Sacramento store. He then discovered he had forgotten his wallet. Abrams then offered to pay for the suit. Battin said he forgot to pay Abrams back for 16 months.

State law generally limits gifts to politicians to $280 from any one source.