House GOP to 'date' lobbyists - for a price
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
(Tribune)
House GOP to 'date' lobbyists - for a price
'Disgusting': Other Utah lawmakers say they want no part of speed-dating
By Matt Canham
The Salt Lake Tribune
Smoker or non-smoker? Do you have any pets? Where do you work?
Next!
Speed-dating is one of the most efficient ways for singles to meet as many potential companions as possible. A five-minute meeting with one man or woman, then a five-minute meeting with the next and so on and so on.
Now, Republicans in the Utah House of Representatives will let lobbyists "date" them for a few precious minutes - as long as they donate to their political action committee.
But at least a few of the 56 House Republicans say allowing lobbyists to brazenly buy access, no matter how brief, is a bad idea.
Rep. Kory Holdaway, R-Taylorsville, called it "disgusting."
"I think it is absurd. It just doesn't sit well with me, the payment for access," he said. "It just doesn't pass the smell test."
Organizers say the idea is simply a fun, new way to raise campaign cash.
House Majority Leader Jeff Alexander recently sent out an e-mail to legislators and lobbyists asking them to keep Jan. 5 open for "Speed Dating."
The notice resembled a classified ad saying: "House Republican Caucus seeks fun-loving individuals to share warm winter evening."
Kat Dayton, fundraiser for the House Republican Caucus came up with the idea while watching the 2005 movie "Hitch," starring Will Smith, which includes a speed-dating scene.
Always seeking innovative ways to raise political money, she pitched it to House Republican leaders, who signed off on the idea. The political action committee this year raised about $100,000 as of mid-September, and lawmakers are looking for more with 2006 being an election year for all 75 House members.
They have not yet set a price to attend, location or the definite rules.
"It's not going to be super expensive; it is kind of a common-man fundraiser for the common-man office," Dayton said.
She wanted to shake up the standard January dinner and expects most legislators to be good sports.
"You kind of have to laugh at yourself," she said. "It's all in fun, so you don't take yourself too seriously."
Lively event or not, Rep. Steve Mascaro, R-West Jordan, recoiled from the idea.
"I, frankly, don't care for it," he said. "If a lobbyist or an individual wants to talk about an issue, I wish they would just give me a call."
Don't expect deep policy discussions, said House Majority Whip Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, who supports the fundraiser.
The event will be "just an excuse to get together and have a good time. I really doubt that there will be much policy discussed, mostly we will have small talk, catch up and then move on," he said.
Urquhart may be right if the event follows the model of nationwide speed-dating organizers Cupid.Com.
Kelli Tyree organizes age-based speed-dating events in the Salt Lake area. This week's gathering involved people ages 45 to 65. She hopes for about 12 men and 12 women, resulting in an hour-and-a-half session with five minutes per speed date.
She charges $32 for each person who registers on the Web site and handles the bell that signals the time to switch partners. Most of the conversations are superficial so she looks for other signs to see if people make a connection.
"Body language is a big thing," she said. "If you see them leaning in toward each other it is a good indication."
Dayton expects the House Republican fundraiser to result in as many politically odd matches as perfect fits. She envisions credit union lobbyists talking with representatives who side with the banks.
Alexander said it is good for legislators and lobbyists to "get out of their comfort zone." He also believes the event will help new legislators meet key players in the legislative process.
Common Cause advocate Tony Musci said the event feels "unseemly," especially with the use of the word "dating" used to describe legislators and lobbyists talking.
"But I don't know how this differs from any other standard party fundraiser," he said. "If you have the bucks, you get the access."
Holdaway sees it differently and plans to avoid the fundraiser if possible. He would have liked to discuss the idea with the other House Republicans before the leaders advertised the event.
If they did, he would have told them: "Obviously raising money for elections is an issue, but this isn't the way to go about doing that."
Holdaway said the public already has a negative impression of legislators.
"Why make it worse?"
mcanham@sltrib.com