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from: Chicago Tribune

Elected officials learn- in Vegas
Cable TV industry sponsors junket

By Jeffrey Meitrodt and Monique Garcia
Tribune staff reporters
Published May 8, 2007

SPRINGFIELD -- With lawmakers wrestling over a highly contentious bill that would dramatically overhaul the cable television business in Illinois, the industry took at least 11 House and Senate members to Las Vegas last weekend for schmoozing and schooling.

The Cable Television and Communications Association of Illinois is fighting AT&T over the way cable TV is regulated.

Proponents say the Springfield legislation would create new forms of competition and reduce cable TV bills. But opponents fear it would reduce accountability and allow cable operators to focus on rich neighborhoods at the expense of poorer areas.

The bill also would transfer control of cable TV from local governments to the state, which has drawn sharp protests from local officials.

"It's troubling that legislators would be off in Vegas with the cable industry at the same time we have major cable legislation on the table," said Cindi Canary, director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

Gary Mack, a spokesman for the Illinois cable group, said all 38 members of the two legislative committees that oversee cable television were invited to this year's annual conference of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association. The Illinois association offered to pay for airfare "and all your expenses related to this educational trip," according to an invitation to one of the lawmakers.

"The timing for us to present this stuff is particularly good for these legislators because it is critical right now that they know what is going on," he said.

But AT&T spokesman Rob Biederman said cable operators are using the event to "protect their monopoly and maintain the status quo."

At least 11 lawmakers accepted the invitation, according to two members who took the trip: Senators attending included Environment and Energy Chairman James Clayborne (D-Belleville), Dan Cronin (R-Elmhurst), Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale), Randall Hultgren (R-Winfield) and Carole Pankau (R-Itasca); House members included Reps. Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro), Marlow Colvin (D-Chicago), William Davis (D-Homewood), Kenneth Dunkin (D-Chicago), Kurt Granberg (D-Carlyle) and Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago).

Davis, Mendoza and Cronin are not on the two main committees invited to the conference.

Some lawmakers said they are paying for part of their trip. Mendoza and Dunkin, for example, said they paid for their airfare.

A House ethics officer signed off on the trip but told lawmakers they would have to report it as a gift on their financial disclosure forms because the sponsor would likely spend more than $500 on airfare, meals and lodging, said Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago).

Several lawmakers said they rejected the trip because it made them uncomfortable.

"I know some of my colleagues are going, and I respect their point of view, but with all of the things going on this year ... the last thing the public wants is for me to go on a junket to Vegas when we have a big bill up like this," Rep. Bill Mitchell (R-Forsyth) said.

Dillard, who encourages cable competition, said, "No one should assume how I'll vote on that issue because I took a trip."

Dillard said the industry's lobbying efforts were "pretty subdued." He said he talked to top executives and key engineers while experimenting with high-tech gadgets.

"My job is to make sure that the people of Illinois have the option of the latest Jetsons-type technology," said Dillard, referring to the futuristic TV cartoon.

Dillard said his airfare cost $357 but didn't know how much the cable group spent on his room at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel, which listed rates of $169 to $189 per night. He said the industry took lawmakers to dinner at two restaurants with Chicago connections: Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba and Mon Ami Gabi.

Most lawmakers didn't return calls about the trip.