Lobbyists charged $500 to question GOP candidates

By Charles S. Johnson of The Standard State Bureau - 04/17/2004

HELENA — Organizers of a Republican candidate forum in Lewistown Friday night took the unusual step of telling lobbyists they could ask questions of gubernatorial candidates, but they had to donate — preferably $500 apiece — to help pay for the event.

Two veteran lobbyists told the Lee Newspapers State Bureau they or members of their groups were approached by organizers with this offer. Both lobbyists, who asked not to be identified, called the odd pay-for-questioning request unprecedented.

At many governor candidate forums, anyone can stand to ask questions or submit questions in writing — at no cost. Other forums, sponsored by interest groups, allow members to quiz the candidates, but again at no cost. Some forums have journalists or local leaders question the candidates, but they don't have to pay to ask questions.

Trevis Butcher, organizer of the Central Montana Republican Gubernatorial Debate, said it wasn't the backers' intention to leave the impression that people had to pay money to question the four GOP candidates for governor at the event at the Fergus County Fairgrounds. It was a joint event sponsored by the Fergus County Republican Central Committee and the Central Montana Republican Assemblies, a conservative grass-roots GOP group.

‘‘We were hoping that the issues brought forth would encourage people to contribute, but we didn't make it a requirement,'' said Butcher, son of Sen. Ed Butcher, R-Winifred.

Butcher said the groups sought numerous questions from various interest groups around t he state.

‘‘We have a budget of $5,000 (for the event) and 10 questions,'' he said. ‘‘We said we hoped there was $500 worth of interest in a question.''

He added, ‘‘They didn't have to pay, but we sure encouraged it.''

‘‘We needed to raise $5,000,'' he said. ‘‘We said if we hit 10 areas, hopefully they will kick in $500 each.''

A board of organizers narrowed the submitted questions from 18 to 10, he said.

Butcher said the $5,000 budget covered the cost of renting the facility, buying the food for a free ‘‘hamburger feed'' for the anticipated audience of 500 people and participants and paying a $250 gratuity to the debate moderator, Dave Berg, a Billings radio talk show host. The event was to be carried statewide on 21 radio stations by the Northern Broadcasting Network.

Some people who were scheduled to ask questions were donors, while others weren't, he said.

‘‘I suppose most of them kicked in at least 50 bucks, but it wasn't a criteria asking a question,'' Bucher said. ‘‘We had a Second Amendment question, but that individual didn't kick in anything.''