Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 9, 1994 TAG: 9407130010
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Disney's $444,350 in lobbying costs was four times as much as was spent by the park's main opponent, the Piedmont Environmental Council. The environmental group spent $105,700 to rank second in the lobbying reports released Friday by the secretary of the commonwealth.
The spending by Disney is far higher than that of any other group at recent sessions. Comparisons are difficult to make, however, because this is the first time lobbyists have been required to report year-round expenses. The reports covered May 1993 to May 1994.
In previous years, lobbyists reported what they spent to influence legislators from November through March. The assembly meets from January through early March.
Most of Disney's money went to pay its big-name lobbyists, who included former state Secretary of Education James Dyke, former Secretary of Natural Resources John Daniel and former U.S. Attorney Richard Cullen. The company spent more than $32,000 to entertain legislators.
Gov. George Allen, who strongly supports the Disney park, defended the company's efforts.
``I see nothing wrong with allowing citizens to lobby their government,'' Allen said. ``The key thing is that it's disclosed. People can draw their own conclusions.''
Robert Dennis, president of the environmental council, said he was surprised that the Disney figure was so low.
``We were getting estimates that they were spending, I don't know, well over a million,'' he said.
Disney spokeswoman Marie Garvey said Disney spent the money to inform legislators about the complex project planned for Prince William County.
``Our project was only announced six weeks prior to the General Assembly starting, and we wanted to brief the members of the legislature fully and quickly,'' she said.
Another big spender was the Virginia Education Association, which successfully lobbied for more teachers in poor elementary schools. The group spent $101,700.
Proponents of riverboat gambling also spent heavily in their failed bid for a referendum on the matter. Hollywood Casino Corp. spent nearly $74,000; Lady Luck Gaming Corp., $34,000; Station Casinos, $62,000; and the Virginia Riverboat Council, $26,000.
by CNB