Lobbyists and legislators comments on lobbyist spending

Friday, Aug. 15, 1997 | 7:14 a.m.

Remarks from lobbyists, legislators on spending by the advocates during the 1997 Legislature.

"Most of this comes from my going to receptions. I think they are valuable. They bring people together where they're not in an adversarial position. This is a people business and you have to get to know one another. ... And whatever amount is reported on me, I've always given that amount to charity. I don't make a splash about it. I just do it." - Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, second behind Sen. Ray Shaffer, D-North Las Vegas, with $889 in lobbyist spending on him.

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"Our report reflects our 75th anniversary dinner (at the start of the session), and it includes the expenses for non-legislators as well as legislators. ... I don't think it really affected our lobbying efforts. If there's anything that helps the association, it's that we have been before the Legislature for 75 years and we're acknowledged to have some expertise in the area of government fiscal issues." - Carole Vilardo of the Nevada Taxpayers Association, listed second behind the Nevada Mining Association with $5,648 in spending.

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"I made a commitment going in that I would be responsible for my spending, and accountable for what was spent on me, and I felt it was responsible to pay my own way. ...There's no way someone's going to sell a vote for a lunch. But for me, it just made it easier to have an open dialogue with anyone who wanted to see me." - Sen. Valerie Wiener, D-Las Vegas, who took nothing from lobbyists.

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"I paid my own way if I decided to have something to eat or drink." - Sen. Jon Porter, R-Henderson, who took nothing because of what he termed "the perception problem." Porter even had cards printed on which he stated he wouldn't take any food or drinks from lobbyists and handed them out to hosts at various events.

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"The downside of the law is some legislators are not going to the big parties given by the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts or whoever. I have pretty much gone to everything." - Assemblyman Bob Price, D-North Las Vegas, who authored the 1993 law that provided for more disclosure. Price was sixth in getting meals and drinks from lobbyists, with a $656 total.