Reporting from Sacramento - For many who join the select club of 120 known as the California Legislature, everything changes. Once inside, they find an army of lobbyists and corporate executives at their disposal, more than eager to shower them with food, drink, travel and -- in some cases -- sex.
The case of Michael Duvall, the 54-year-old Yorba Linda assemblyman who resigned Wednesday after the disclosure that he bragged over an open microphone of apparent sexual trysts, is a window into a world in which those who vie to sit through dreary legislative meetings can be rewarded in more bacchanalian ways.
Beyond lavish meals with fine wines, special interests offer overseas junkets, pro basketball games and weekends at spas and golf resorts that pair their lobbyists with lawmakers.
"When you're in Sacramento, the entire city is dedicated to making you feel important and special," said Don Perata, a former state Senate leader.
...
At the annual "Speaker's Cup" at Pebble Beach this year, dozens of lobbyists had a chance to rub elbows with Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles).
One lobbyist, Darius Anderson, has been known for arranging trips to Cuba.
The state prison guards' union has sponsored lawmakers' voyages to Maui, paying for some of their expenses there.
At least one company, BP America, has set up an automated hotline that lawmakers and staff can call for freebies to concerts, shows and sports events. Legislators may even "ask a member of their own staff to call on their behalf," BP's phone message says. The firm has spent more than $39,000 on giveaways since 2008.
One of the biggest spenders in Sacramento is AT&T, which has e-mail addresses that lawmakers and their staffs use to request tickets. The company reported $53,000 worth of giveaways in the first half of 2009, including a Britney Spears concert and seats at a Lakers playoff game.
...
One longtime Sacramento lobbyist, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of offending lawmakers, acknowledged that sexual relationships sometimes develop, although not many.
More commonly, big lobbying firms hire attractive women.
The legislators are thrilled by the women's attention at fundraisers and other events, the lobbyist said.
"If there's a beautiful woman sitting there that's with you from your firm, you're going to have at least half of the guys that are legislators come over and initiate conversations with her," the lobbyist said. "She doesn't have to sleep with them, but it's just the fact she's there and she's nice to them."
Male lawmakers are not the only targets. Former Sen. Sheila Kuehl, a Santa Monica Democrat and California's first openly lesbian lawmaker, recounted that the National Rifle Assn. once sent a "really good-looking" woman, whom she took to be a lesbian, to lobby her against restrictive gun laws.
"Why would she be the one coming to talk to me to talk about the NRA?" said Kuehl, who left office in 2008. "I'm sure they said, 'Let's send her to talk to Sheila.' I found it sort of amusing, actually."
...
