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The March 9 party was in honor of Sen. Victor Crist and his new fiancée. The main bankroller for the $5,000 tab: prominent South Florida lobbyist Bob Levy, whose lengthy roster of clients includes the Professional Wrecker Operators of Florida. The senator sponsoring the top bill tow-truck operators want passed this year? Victor Crist. Because as many as 150 people were present at the party, the event would not violate Florida's ban on gifts over $100 to public officials. The large number in attendance dilutes the value to any one person. But the party is another example of the often-hidden world in the state capital where legislators have a cozy relationship with lobbyists who represent special interests. Crist, Levy and Diaz de la Portilla all said that Crist had nothing to do with setting up the party. And Crist said he did not know who was asked to pay for it, even though others at the party, including Diaz de la Portilla, said Crist publicly thanked Levy. ''When a colleague wants to throw me a reception and all I've got to do is show up, I was honored,'' said Crist, who said he thanked lots of people at the party, including Levy. ``I have no idea of who, where and what.'' Levy said he didn't do it to curry any special favor with Crist. Last week The Herald reported that Sen. Mandy Dawson, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat, sent out a letter asking lobbyists to pay her way on an economic development trip to South Africa. Dawson is now being investigated by the Senate's general counsel for possible ethics violations. Diaz de la Portilla defended the party as a social event, saying that Levy offered to pay for it weeks in advance because he and Crist have known each other since before Crist was elected. He said it differed greatly from the receptions that lawmakers routinely attend around town during their annual 60-day session, where a single association will invite legislators and then aggressively lobby them. ''At this event, no one there was lobbied,'' said Diaz de la Portilla, who added that he himself pitched in $600 for wine and alcoholic beverages for the party. ``This was a collegial event.'' But Senate President Tom Lee, who wants to beef up disclosure requirements for lobbyists and who attended the party, said he would not have gone had he known that lobbyists were paying for it. ''I had no idea,'' said Lee. ``If I had known ahead of time that lobbyists were paying for it, I would have suggested alternative means to pay for it. It's not unusual for the Republican Party of Florida to do these kind of receptions.'' The party for Crist also came the same day that his bill on wrecker services cleared its third committee in the Senate. The measure, which passed another committee this week, would require wrecker companies to register with the state and pay a registration fee, do background checks on employees, and require tow-truck drivers to take training courses. Crist, who has sponsored a similar bill for three years now but has been unable to get the full Senate to pass it, says the measure would protect consumers by ensuring that towing companies are professionally run. The state's main organization of tow-truck drivers favors the bill, though a newly formed splinter group and the AAA oppose it, saying the law would stifle competition and force out smaller operators. It is illegal for legislators to solicit gifts from lobbyists. But Diaz de la Portilla said Levy approached him a few weeks ago at a party for another senator and asked if they could do something similar for Crist. 'I said, `Just give me the bills,' '' said Levy, who said he was going to ask several of his clients to reimburse him. Levy defended his decision to pay for the party, saying he is ''close'' to Crist and Diaz de la Portilla and that it had nothing to do with Crist's sponsorship of a bill that one of his clients wants passed. Herald staff writer Marc Caputo contributed to this story. |
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A Feast
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