State Officials See the World--Others Pay $210,000 Tab

SACRAMENTO —  California lawmakers took more than $210,000 worth of free foreign travel last year, much of it financed by trade associations and business groups with interests before the Legislature and some paid for by foreign governments with a stake in the California marketplace.

Germany was the favorite destination, followed by Iraq, Taiwan, Italy, Israel and Switzerland. But senators and Assembly members also touched down in Japan, Austria, France, the Soviet Union, China, South Africa, Southeast Asia, Greece and Jamaica.

“Unfortunately, the vast majority of the travel consists of boondoggles and extra vacations which are disguised,” said Dan Stanford, chairman of the state Fair Political Practices Commission. “That’s unfortunate because there are some legitimate trips that should be taken by legislators and elected officials for information and educational purposes to help them decide policy issues that come up before the Legislature.

“Their perspective is they are saving the taxpayers money by not charging trips to the state and having someone else pick up the tab. The problem is that the Legislature works for the public and is responsible for the public’s money. If they don’t think a trip justifies the expenditure of taxpayer money, they shouldn’t go.

“They don’t work for the companies or the governments that send them on these trips and pay their expenses.”

Needless to say, the beneficiaries of the travel see it differently.

“I think it makes a big difference as far as maintaining good will,” said Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles), who was in a delegation that went to Taiwan as a guest of that nation’s government and a San Francisco Bay Area import-export company. He took his wife, and his 1984 statement of economic interests filed with the FPPC shows that the trip cost $4,196.

“You find that Taiwan, even though it does not have diplomatic relations with the United States anymore, is not a piranha nation. It has a lot of contacts and understanding with American leaders in business and politics, and they are very desirous of maintaining those contacts so they don’t become isolated.”

Roberti and his wife also took a $12,802 trip to Italy, courtesy of an Italian business and industrial group.

What would such a group hope to get from inviting a California legislator on such a trip?

“Nothing,” Roberti said. “Why do they do it? For the reason, I would suspect that . . . Israel and Taiwan promote trips--to promote good will and have leaders understand that Italy is a nation of great industrial growth as well as art and scenery. They are just trying to get that message across.”

Roberti’s FPPC statement also shows that on his Italian trip he picked up gifts valued at $530 ranging from etchings and lithographs to liqueur.

In some cases, legislators claimed that the trips backfired on the hosts.

Assemblymen Robert C. Frazee (R-Carlsbad) and Larry Stirling (R-San Diego) went to South Africa, for instance, at the expense of the South African government.

“They were trying to sell us on opposing disinvestment legislation,” said Stirling, who serves on the Assembly Finance and Insurance Committee. “Each year the issue of disinvestment comes up (the effort to divest state money and public pension funds from companies doing business with South Africa because of its apartheid policies). In previous years, I’ve voted against it on philosophical grounds.”

But Stirling said that when he returned from the trip, he wrote an article titled “The Case for Selective Disinvestment” in which he described apartheid as “no good spiritually, politically or financially.” He called it “immoral and enormously inefficient.”

To that extent, he said, the trip had the opposite effect from what his host had hoped.

“I’m sure you could paint it anyway you wanted to,” he said. “But the fact is it didn’t seduce me into accepting their position. Nobody does anything for a legislator unless they are trying to get something out of it. But one thing missing in a lot of press accounts and speeches is any talk about (legislators’) integrity.”

Oddly enough, many legislators get the most defensive on the issue of travel if they think they are being accused of spending taxpayer dollars. They believe that they would suffer more politically from traveling at state expense than from accepting free trips from groups that might be trying to influence them.

“I personally have a policy of not going on any trip that the state would have to fund,” said Assemblyman Frank Hill (R-Whittier), who was among a group of four Assembly members who went to Germany at the expense of a German telecommunications company. The trip was billed as a “study tour of European telecommunications facilities.”

“If they were trying to sell us a telephone system, I wasn’t convinced,” said Hill, who is on the budget-writing Assembly Ways and Means Committee. But he described the trip as “very valuable” and emphasized that it was “funded entirely” by A. G. Siemens.

Assembly Majority Leader Mike Roos of Los Angeles also emphasized that “it’s better than the taxpayers’ paying for it” when he was asked about his $3,100 trip to Switzerland, paid for by a company that sells machines to convert garbage into energy.

Roos also was hosted by an Italian labor union on a $6,143 trip to Italy, as were two of his colleagues. He said the union “wanted to get more in touch with what’s going on in the workplace in the U.S.”

The FPPC’s Stanford tried to explain the lawmakers’ mentality.

“In their minds, and I think to a certain extent in the public’s mind, the worst political evil of all is violating the public’s trust and treating the public treasury as a gift shop,” said Stanford, who added that lawmakers would rather travel as the guests of special-interest groups than “raise that most serious question about public trust” by using state money for trips that are not easily justified.

Stanford also said the rationale is that it is legal to take free trips, as long as they are reported. “That’s the classic political response,” he said.

With issues such as the unitary tax and high-speed rail systems on the legislative agenda last year, there was no question that foreign interests had reason to want to be on friendly terms with California lawmakers. And some domestic interests wanted to make sure that influential legislators got a look at foreign projects for which there were equivalent U.S. proposals.

For instance, the industry-financed California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance took three members of the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee, including its chairwoman, Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles), on a 12-day tour of Southeast Asia last February at a cost of $2,444 each. They made stops in Singapore, Hong Kong and Jakarta.

“The principal purpose was to look at liquefied natural gas facilities and Pacific trading partners’ ports,” said the council’s president, Peter Fearey. A liquefied natural gas facility was being proposed for California at the time, strongly backed by the council.

Several months later, a sister group to the council, the California Foundation on the Environment and Economy, hosted the chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, John F. Foran (D-San Francisco), and two of his colleagues for a swing through Germany, France and Switzerland to look at high-speed rail systems.

Other local and state elected officials were on the same trip.

At the time, plans by a Japanese firm for a high-speed rail line between San Diego and Los Angeles were close to being abandoned. But Pat Mason, the foundation’s executive director, said the concept was not dead and that the “French and Germans are very interested.”

‘People-to-People Contact’

Again, the cost of the trip for each of the three lawmakers was in excess of $2,000.

One of the more unusual trips was led by Sen. Wadie P. Deddeh (D-Chula Vista) to his native Iraq, courtesy of the Iraqi government. Eight lawmakers made the trip, first-class all the way. The total cost was nearly $50,000.

“I have always been a strong believer in . . . people-to-people contact,” said Deddeh, who also took his son. “I volunteered to pay his way, but you have to understand Arab hospitality. They said I ought to be ashamed of myself for even suggesting that.”

He said the group “discussed a lot of trade issues” with Iraqi officials.

Most lawmakers won’t admit to taking much pleasure from their trips. They would prefer to have people believe that they were all business. But an exception is Assemblyman Robert W. Naylor (R-Menlo Park).

Naylor took his wife to Italy last December, trading in a business-class ticket he was given by an Italian business publication for two tourist-class tickets. He said he “used the opportunity to extend the trip and take a little vacation.”

He said the magazine took a number of Californians over to discuss the state’s high-technology industry and that he saw no conflict because he could not anticipate voting on any issue that would affect the donor.

“From a legislator’s family’s standpoint, when he could be earning more in the private sector, every once in a while it is nice to have a benefit that a spouse can take advantage of,” Naylor said.

TRAVELING LEGISLATORS These are legislators who made foreign trips last year, the countries visited, the sponsor and the cost. The information was obtained from statements of economic interests that legislators must file annually with the state Fair Political Practices Commission:

ASSEMBLY

Legislator (District) Cost Country Visited Art Agnos (D-San Francisco) $2,209 Soviet Union Tom Bates (D-Oakland) $750 China Bill Bradley (R-San Marcos) $2,444 Southeast Asia Bruce Bronzan (D-Fresno) $2,444 Southeast Asia Gary A. Condit (D-Ceres) $2,189 Taiwan $3,100 Switzerland Lloyd G. Connelly (D-Sacramento) $3,600 Israel Dominic L. Cortese (D-San Jose) $3,407 Taiwan Sam Farr (D-Carmel) $3,600 Israel American Zionist Robert C. Frazee (R-Carlsbad) $6,143 Italy $5,720 South Africa Thomas M. Hannigan (D-Fairfield) $1,500 China Wally Herger (R-Rio Oso) $3,500 Israel Frank Hill (R-Whittier) $1,842 Germany Teresa P. Hughes (D-Los Angeles) $1,842 Germany Phillip Isenberg (D-Sacramento) $3,287 Taiwan Burt Margolin (D-Los Angeles) $3,600 Israel $1,662 Germany Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) $2,444 Southeast Asia $1,842 Germany Robert W. Naylor (R-Menlo Park) $3,280 Italy Louis J. Papan (D-Millbrae) $6,143 Italy $2,189 Ger., France, Switz. Steve Peace (D-Chula Vista) $4,842 Germany Mike Roos (D-Los Angeles) $3,100 Switzerland $6,143 Italy Larry Stirling (R-San Diego) $5,720 South Africa Gloria Molina (D-Los Angeles) $3,600 Israel SENATE Alfred E. Alquist (D-San Jose) $6,059 Iraq Robert Beverly (R-Manhattan Beach) $2,278 Ger., France, Switz. $6,200 Iraq $3,100 Austria Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) $2,231 Japan Daniel E. Boatwright (D-Concord) $7,461 Japan Paul B. Carpenter (D-Cypress) $6,450 Iraq John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove) $1,500 China $4,803 Italy Waddie P. Deddeh (D-Chula Vista) $6,000 Iraq John F. Foran (D-San Francisco) $2,189 Ger., France, Switz. $6,000 Iraq $3,100 Austria Leroy Greene (D-Carmichael) $455 Japan Barry Keene (D-Benecia) $6,000 Iraq $5,000 Germany Milton Marks (R-San Francisco) $2,353 Taiwan Dan McCorquodale (D-San Jose) $6,000 Iraq $2,353 Taiwan Joseph B. Montoya (D-Whittier) $4,306 Taiwan Nicholas C. Petris (D-Oakland) $5,632 Jamaica $1,500 China David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) $4,196 Taiwan $12,802 Italy Herschel Rosenthal (D-Los Angeles) $1,688 Soviet Union Edward R. Royce (R-Anaheim) $1,270 Germany Art Torres (D-South Pasadena) $6,000 Iraq

Legislator (District) Sponsor Listed With State Art Agnos (D-San Francisco) Bay Area Council for Soviet Jews and the Jewish Community Relations Council Tom Bates (D-Oakland) Chinese People’s Assn. for Friendship With Foreign Countries Bill Bradley (R-San Marcos) California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance (a coalition of major industrial organizations) Bruce Bronzan (D-Fresno) California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance Gary A. Condit (D-Ceres) Coordination Council for North American Affairs (the Taiwanese government) and Wells Pacific Corp. (a San Francisco Bay Area import-export business) Buhler Brothers Ltd. (a Swiss machine manufacturer) Lloyd G. Connelly (D-Sacramento) American Zionist Federation Dominic L. Cortese (D-San Jose) Coordination Council for North American Affairs and Wells Pacific Corp. Sam Farr (D-Carmel) Federation Robert C. Frazee (R-Carlsbad) Unione Italiana Del Lavoro (an Italian labor union) South African Consulate, Beverly Hills Thomas M. Hannigan (D-Fairfield) Chinese People’s Assn. for Friendship With Foreign Countries Wally Herger (R-Rio Oso) American Zionist Federation Frank Hill (R-Whittier) A.G. Siemens (a German telecommunications firm) Teresa P. Hughes (D-Los Angeles) Federal Republic of Germany Phillip Isenberg (D-Sacramento) Coordination Council for North American Affairs Burt Margolin (D-Los Angeles) American Zionist Federation Aspen Institute of Berlin Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance A.G. Siemens Robert W. Naylor (R-Menlo Park) Center for Studies and Application in Advanced Technology (an Italian consortium of business and academic interests) Louis J. Papan (D-Millbrae) Unione Italiana Del Lavoro California Foundation on the Environment and Economy Steve Peace (D-Chula Vista) A.G. Siemens Mike Roos (D-Los Angeles) Buhler Bros. Ltd. Unione Italiana Del Lavoro Larry Stirling (R-San Diego) South African Consulate, Beverly Hills Gloria Molina (D-Los Angeles) American Zionist Federation SENATE Alfred E. Alquist (D-San Jose) Republic of Iraq Robert Beverly (R-Manhattan Beach) California Foundation on the Environment and Economy Republic of Iraq Mahinen Fabrrik (Austrian industrial steel and waste management firm) Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) California Passenger Rail Finance Commission Daniel E. Boatwright (D-Concord) Japan Institute for Social and Economic Affairs Paul B. Carpenter (D-Cypress) Republic of Iraq John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove) Chinese People’s Assn. for Friendship With Foreign Countries La Rivista Dei Fondi Communi d’Investimento (Italian business publication) Waddie P. Deddeh (D-Chula Vista) Republic of Iraq John F. Foran (D-San Francisco) California Foundation on the Environment and Economy Republic of Iraq Mahinen Fabrrik Leroy Greene (D-Carmichael) (Air fare and lodging paid by California Passenger Rail Finance Commission and not shown on report) Barry Keene (D-Benecia) Republic of Iraq Federal Republic of Germany Milton Marks (R-San Francisco) Coordination Council for North American Affairs and Wells Pacific Corp. Dan McCorquodale (D-San Jose) Republic of Iraq Coordination Council for North American Affairs and Wells Pacific Corp. Joseph B. Montoya (D-Whittier) Coordination Council for North American Affairs and Wells Pacific Corp. Nicholas C. Petris (D-Oakland) California Trial Lawyers Assn. Chinese People’s Assn. for Friendship With Foreign Countries (Petris’ report also shows that his campaign committee financed a round trip for two to China, $2,422, and a round trip to Greece, $1,120) David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) Coordination Council for North American Affairs and Wells Pacific Corp. Associazione per gli Interscambi Italo-U.S. (an Italian business and industrial group) Herschel Rosenthal (D-Los Angeles) Community Relations Commission of the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles Edward R. Royce (R-Anaheim) American Council of Young Political Leaders Art Torres (D-South Pasadena) Republic of Iraq