WASHINGTON — Growing up in the Inland Empire, Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands) was such a star at San Bernardino High School that he captained the swimming team and his basketball jersey was later retired. He went on to build an insurance business, raise seven children, serve on a school board and enter the state Legislature before going on to Congress.
And as a member -- now chairman -- of the House Appropriations Committee, he has sent so much federal money home and been so attentive to local officials that his name is on facilities everywhere. On a community center in Highland, a San Bernardino swimming pool, a University of Redlands research center and more.
"If I want to speak to him or his office, I can contact them at any time," says Redlands Mayor Jon Harrison.
Yet even though the mayor can talk to Lewis and his staff whenever he needs to, the Redlands city government pays $30,000 a year to a Washington lobbying firm for help getting federal funds for local projects.
Redlands is not alone. Over the last few years, at least 19 Inland Empire cities, schools, hospitals and government institutions have paid fees totaling several million dollars to a single lobbying firm -- in large part to help them get federal money from a congressman whose door was already open to them.
Why local officials are hiring a single firm to help them deal with such an approachable congressman is not entirely clear.
"Why do they feel a need to hire a middleman?" asked Michael Franc, a former Republican congressional staffer now at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. "It certainly raises eyebrows."
Whatever the reasons -- and different officials offer different explanations -- one thing does seem clear: Money is showering down on everyone involved.
The firm has collected hefty fees. Lewis has received several hundred thousand dollars in vital campaign contributions from the lobby shop. And local officials have apparently concluded that hiring the firm is the way to get more federal largesse.
The firm is Copeland Lowery Jacquez Denton & White, and it has close ties to the congressman. Members of the firm include former Rep. Bill Lowery, a Lewis friend, and Letitia White, a former senior aide in Lewis' office. Jeff Shockey had been a Lewis aide, then left to work for the lobbying firm and has now rejoined the congressman's staff. Shockey's wife works as a subcontractor for Copeland Lowery.
