Lobbyist's
Pay Tops $1 Million
The annual salary of the chief
lobbyist for Nevada casinos has increased 19
percent in two years and is now more than $1
million.
And
his total compensation package exceeds $1.25
million per year, according to a survey reported
in the latest issue of National Journal.
Frank
Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming
Association, ranks 16th in salary and 23rd in
total compensation among Washington lobbyists,
the survey said.
The
survey was based on reports filed with the Internal
Revenue Service or the Labor Department for
2003 and 2004. Revenue for the American Gaming
Association, which was founded in 1995, was
about $7.2 million.
Fahrenkopf,
66, declined to give his current salary. He
said the board of directors of the gaming association
usually determines his salary at its December
meeting.
"I'm
not going to comment on that. I'm wondering
what the compensation of your publisher is.
What's your editor's compensation? What's your
compensation?" Fahrenkopf said.
Fahrenkopf's
salary far exceeds that of the president of
the United States -- $400,000 -- and those for
members of Congress -- $165,200.
Fahrenkopf
acknowledged he is concerned about the potential
effect of the scandal surrounding lobbyist Jack
Abramoff. After pleading guilty last month to
three felonies in a fraud and bribery case,
Abramoff is cooperating in a federal inquiry
of corruption in Congress.
"He's
being portrayed as the number one lobbyist in
Washington, and before this scandal broke, nine
out of 10 people in this city never heard of
Abramoff," Fahrenkopf said. "Someone
in the media really should focus on the 99.9
percent of lobbyists who follow the law, are
very hard working and educate legislators on
the (Capitol) Hill."
Fahrenkopf's
salary has increased 19 percent from $974,926
since the last survey two years ago. His compensation
package has increased 20 percent from $1,047,109.
Fahrenkopf
has risen among lobbyists in salary from 18th
to 16th and in compensation from 29th to 23rd.
"You
know me, I never comment on my competition,"
Fahrenkopf said.
Jack
Valenti, who retired in 2004 as the chief lobbyist
for the Motion Picture Association of America,
led all lobbyists in the survey with a compensation
package of more than $11 million. Terrence McDermott,
the top lobbyist for the National Association
of Realtors, received the highest annual salary
among lobbyists -- $2,633,204.
Fahrenkopf
is one of the three highest-compensated lobbyists
for trade associations specializing in sales,
service and construction, according to the survey.
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