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CD-ROM Aktief 1995 #3
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1994-02-22
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SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS
Copyright 1992, San Jose Mercury News
DATE: Monday, January 27, 1992
PAGE: 5B EDITION: Morning Final
SECTION: California News LENGTH: 24 in. Medium
SOURCE: McClatchy News Service
DATELINE: Sacramento
EX-LOBBYIST SEES LAWMAKERS AS SELFISH BUNCH
Californians who believe many of their legislators are preoccupied with
raising money and resisting reform can rest assured.
They're right.
At least that's one of the blunt opinions of Margaret Herman, who spent
19 years as a legislative lobbyist for the California League of Women Voters
before retiring last month.
As a leading public-interest advocate, Herman had a front- row seat as
the Legislature evolved into a modern institution serving about 30 million
California residents. But in an interview, she said her experiences hold out
little hope that lawmakers will take steps to restore an image tarnished by
criminal scandal and political self-interest.
''I think there are things they could do to restore their image and no, I
don't think they will do it,'' Herman said.
''There are individual legislators for whom I have tremendous respect. .
. . But collectively, I think they will not be able to adhere to the kinds of
rules they need to adhere to, and pass up the kinds of perks that they should
give up, to raise their image,'' she said.
Left teaching in 1973
Herman began her Capitol job in 1973, leaving a substitute- teaching
post. She was eager to lobby for ratification of the federal Equal Rights
Amendment, campaign finance reform, school financing and other priorities of
the non-partisan league.
Two decades ago, the Capitol seemed to be a friendlier,
less-confrontational place and legislators would always find time to talk to
her, Herman said. Lawmakers also appeared to be in better touch with their
constituents than today, ''a little more conscious of what was happening
outside in the world,'' she said.
But there were down sides then, as well. Corporate lobbyists showered
free meals and drinks on lawmakers, some committee meetings and committee
votes were routinely kept secret, and then -- as today -- many
good-government reforms sought by the league were resisted by those with a
stake in the system.
''Several times I have had very rough times in committee, particularly on
the issue of campaign finance reform,'' Herman said. ''I can remember in the
very early years the most adamant and vocally against it was
David*Roberti,*and getting chastised in committee by David*Roberti*over the
subject.''
He has moved up
*Roberti,*a Los Angeles Democrat, has since become the powerful president
pro tem of the Senate. But he has seen three former senators caught in
a*corruption*probe during his leadership tenure, and*Roberti*faces his own
re-election problems because of redistricting.
''I understand he may now be changing his mind (on campaign finance
reforms). Everybody has a right to change their mind,'' Herman said of the
Senate leader.
Two decades ago, it was more difficult for a woman to work in the
Capitol, she said.
While she was usually treated with courtesy by male lawmakers, ''you
would walk into a hearing room and there would be just you and the
(committee) secretary. Or you would walk into a coalition meeting with a lot
of people and they were all men, talking about what men talk about, and it
was daunting at that level.''
Today, there are more women lobbyists, lawmakers and committee staff
consultants, making the atmosphere more open for women, she said.
But legislators today are generally much less accessible and many seem to
be spending more and more of their time raising campaign money, Herman said.
''I can't overemphasize the difference there is in that regard,'' she
said. ''There has been an increase in the cost of campaigns, of course, the
same way as anything else with inflation.
''But I think they raise it (campaign money) because they are paranoid;
it comes with the territory. They raise money so that they will have a big
campaign fund to scare off challengers. I think they raise money because they
can; it's there, and they figure out later what to do with it.''
Absent strict reform laws, would the Legislature ever voluntarily end its
upward spiral of fund raising and campaign spending?
''Oh, heavens no!'' exclaimed Herman.
The League of Women Voters does not make contributions to candidates.
Herman said that fact put her at a handicap when she competed for
legislators' time with lobbyists representing cash-rich corporations and
other special interests.
''Money speaks loudly and clearly here. . . . Aside from simply a quid
pro quo, let's face it: If one side can get in there and get their view
before the legislator and you can't because you can't even get in to see the
legislator, then that makes the difference,'' she said.
While declining to name names, Herman said that of the 119 current
legislators, she believes ''a dozen'' do a really good