Call it the revenge of the nerd.
A week after a lobbyists` report said that nobody liked him, state Rep. Ellis Levin (D-Chicago) hit back Tuesday, announcing plans to crack down on-you guessed it-lobbyists.
Levin, who acknowledged that he might not be the most popular legislator but made no apologies for his tenure in Springfield, said he would introduce a bill broadening the definition of lobbying, requiring public disclosure of almost all lobbyist spending, and imposing fines on violators.
It was classic Levin, who has built a reputation as (pick one) a headline follower or a do-gooder during his career representing his North Side lakeshore-liberal district. He was was first elected in 1977, served one term, then was re-elected in 1981 and has served since then.
”If the lobbyists dislike me now, after this press conference, they`re really going to dislike me,” the 47-year-old lawyer said, beaming at the TV cameras from behind a lecturn in the State of Illinois Center.
The bill is Levin`s response to what almost anybody would consider an embarrassing situation. News reports last week repeated over and over that lobbyists working on behalf of the proposed Chicago casino project didn`t think Levin was very well-liked.
On a list describing each legislator and his or her possible position on legalizing a land-based casino, the lobbyists predicted that Levin probably would oppose a casino bill and then wrote this by his name: ”Disliked by almost everyone.”
The document, made public by the Better Government Association, drew outrage from some quarters. But it prompted guffaws from mostly everyone else, especially those who know Levin isn`t one of the boys who move in high political circles.
In Springfield, he is chairman of the House Public Utilities Committee, not the most glamorous of legislative posts. Sometimes he has trouble passing his bills out of his committee.
But to borrow a phrase from Dan Quayle, another politican who has put up with public snickering, Levin wore the lobbyists` scorn as a badge of honor Tuesday in announcing his proposal to crack down on them.
He described his measure as a long-overdue way for ”the people of Illinois to take back their state government from the special interests.” He also derided legislators who wrote the current lobbying law, saying it was made deliberately vague so the lawmakers could continue enjoying meals and presents lavished on them by lobbyists.
Under the law, lobbyists are supposed to register with the secretary of state`s office and list the groups whose interests they are advancing. Those who are obviously engaged in lobbying and are known as regulars in the Capitol do so.
But many others whose lobbying is conducted more subtly, in phone calls and private meetings, do not register.
In addition, lobbyists are supposed to report money they spend to influence lawmakers. But few lobbyists report having spent any money, and those who do generally report having spent only small amounts.
Levin said the law was written ”so you could drive a truck through the loopholes” and legislators could continue to enjoy the results.
As an alternative, he offered his bill, which would specify that non-Illinois residents and corporate executives are subject to the lobbying law, to avoid the current interpretation by some groups and companies that only those lobbying full time within the state are required to register.
Levin said his bill also would broaden the official definition of lobbying to include any effort to introduce or modify a bill, along with the current definition of promoting or opposing legislation.
Finally, the bill would require public disclosure any time a lobbyist spent $50 or more on a legislator, either in one shot or over several instances.
The bill also would establish fines starting at $501 for anyone who violated the bill.
Tracy Litsey, executive director of the Common Cause public-interest group, appeared with Levin and said her organization supports the bill.
”The public has the right to know the money, the gifts and the goodies that go into officials` pockets from lobbyists,” said Litsey, who praised Levin for introducing similar bills.
She acknowledged that almost all of them had died quiet deaths in Springfield.
Litsey described herself as ”Illinois` highest-spending lobbyist,”
saying her group routinely reports having spent the most money to influence legislation because it is the only one that fully discloses its lobbying expenses.
Finally, at the end of his news conference, the question was put to Levin: Was he just doing this to get back at the lobbyists who had called him that nasty name?
No, Levin said, adding that he has received overwhelmingly sympathetic feedback from his constituents.
”People have suggested that I run for governor,” he said.
”I even had a policeman suggest that Diogenes stop looking,” Levin added, referring to the ancient Greek who trod the land searching in vain for a single honest man.
