Lobbyist bakes his way into lawmakers' hearts

If you want the recipe to Ben Graham's lobbying technique, you'll have to check the Nevada Senate's cookbook.

The Las Vegas lobbyist makes 15,000 cookies a year for the same place laws are made. Fortunately, Graham doesn't make hotdogs.

Wednesday was known as the day of a thousand cookies, although for the record Graham made closer to 1,400.

Today, coincidentally, will be known as the day of the cookie crumbs on the steps of the legislative building.

An event for "Speak Out Nevada" sponsored by the Human Services Network and the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada uses the term "cookie crumbs" to describe the portion of the state budget human services receives in comparison with other state services.

In terms of making friends, baking cookies is an effective lobbying tactic with "minimal costs," according to Graham.

It's also just plain nice.

Graham works for the Clark County district attorney and the Nevada District Attorneys' Association.

When asked what kind of cookies he makes for the men and women who make Nevada laws, Graham admits he caters to a few special interests.

"Chocolate chip primarily, with a few special orders. Sen. Raggio likes oatmeal raisin, for example, so I started making those a few years ago."

Graham's cookie approach in politics brings an added meaning to someone who already knows their way around the kitchen.

"Since I'm a lobbyist for the DA, there isn't always a lot of money to work with," Graham said.

State lawmakers are considering raising the salaries of sheriffs and district attorneys so those officials' pay would no longer be less than people who work under them.

Assembly Bill 23, sponsored by Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, would increase pay for district attorneys and sheriffs based on a per-county formula.

In Clark County the district attorney's salary would go from $100,800 to $155,744 per year, while the sheriff's salary would rise from $88,000 to $134,262.

That bill is currently in the Senate Government affairs committee after being approved in the Assembly.

A related pay bill, Assembly Bill 66, was introduced on behalf of the Nevada Association of Counties. That bill includes the same provisions for the sheriffs and district attorneys, but also raises the salaries of county commissioners and other elected county officials.