Tobacco Documents Online

golf course on the other side of the island. There's a big lunch on the lawn, to be followed by their own private golf tournament. Later, back in Washington, Congressman Crane says he went on the trip because the largest employer in his district is the electronics firm Motorola. Rep., PHILIP' CRANE, (R), Illinois: The fact is, it's a working event and the- WALLACE: A working event? Rep. CRANE: -mornings are all working sessions. Right. WALLACE: YouAon't consider what you were on a vacation? Rep. CRANE: No. I' don't consider it a vacation. Vacation time, to me, is time al'one, total relaxing down time away from the telephones- the whole thing. That's- that~s vacation time. Here there were responsibilities every day. WALLACE: [voice-over]'But the responsibilities that afternoon involved golf, with each lawmaker paired with lobbyists. Crane is teamed with TRW and the Consumer Electronics Group. Ti om DeLay, resplendent in knickers, gets Magnavox. Tanner plavs along with Martin~Marietta, Texas Instruments, and DuPont. Critics say this is where the industry does its real business, building personal ties to intluential congressmen. [linterviewing] So there's a lot more going on here than a bunch of good old boys having a game of tennis or a round of golf. Ms. CLAYBROOK: Well, that's right4 They have access, these industries, to members of Congress 24 hours a day for three or four days. That's a lot. You can reallv influence someone that way, particularly when you don't hear the other side. WALLACE: [ivoice-over] There's another cocktail party anddinner that evening, complete with strolling musician and plenty of food and drink. EIA says, with special rates it gets for a big conference, it spends about $2,500 on airfare, room. and entertainment for each congressional couple. But later, back in Washington, McCloskey says he couldn't get the same kind of access to members on Capitol Hill at any price. Mr. McCLOS KEY: They're torn so many different ways that when we make- have meetings witKmembers of Congress here, we only get them for 10 or 15 minutes. WALLACE: But if you hold it in Florida- Mr. McCLOSKEY: Then they'll stay for the period of the conference and we won't have the distractions. We'll be able to focus on industry issues, and I think it's successfut because of that. WALLACE: [voice-over] Day four, Thursday. A 10th lawmaker, Jim Bacchus, has arrived the night before and joins a discussion on international trade. The final panel is on defense. According to its agenda, EIA wants less government regulation of its business. The trip is officially ended, but members of Congress are invited to stay on at their own expense - of course paying EIA's reduced rates. These kinds of trips are common practice, but some lawmakers turn them down on principle, such as Indiana's Andrew Jacobs.

constituents. SAWYER: While, as you saw, two members of Congress talked with us about the trip, five had no comment. Three others issued statements. Joel Hefley and Jim Bacchus said they went on the trip to promote their home districts as good sites for more electronics businesses. Jim Chapman said that he, quote, "would go to the moon, if necessary, to keep Texas industries strong,and Texans employed.°' One other note. The electronics industry says this situation is no different than when they pay journalists to speak before their organization, though others point out journalists are hired to give a speech and nothing more, while members of Congress, who have been wined and dined, vote on legislation that has a direct impact on the industry.