US News

EASY MONEY FOR HER ADVISER AS LOBBYIST FOR CITY COUNCIL – EXCLUSIVE

Hillary Rodham Clinton’s chief political adviser has collected $188,000 since 1997 as a taxpayer-funded consultant to the City Council – with scant documentation to show what he’s done for the money.

Monthly invoices submitted by the Ickes & Enright Group, Clinton adviser Harold Ickes’ Washington-based lobbying firm, have never exceeded a single page.

In some months, Ickes & Enright’s bills didn’t even fill that space.

In September 1997, when it won a $7,000-a- month contract to act as the council’s eyes and ears in Washington, the firm reported earning its fee by:

Conducting “research about and consultation with Speaker’s staff regarding Presidential veto of the New York State health providers tax” and making “various calls” to the chief of staff of Council Speaker Peter Vallone.

The following month, the firm’s work for the council consisted of “consultation with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding the New York State health providers tax,” as well as additional “various calls” to Vallone’s chief of staff.

Two single lines were provided to explain the work product in September 1998: “Review information concerning federal agenda items” and “various calls with Mike Keogh,” a Vallone aide.

Many political consultants work on monthly retainers – but they’re paid out of campaign funds. Government-paid consultants generally provide detailed explanations for their bills.

Ickes, who was deputy White House chief of staff in the Clinton administration and is now Mrs. Clinton’s top political strategist, defended his deal.

“The invoices speak for themselves,” he said. “We don’t put down every item we do … We work on different projects and do what we’re asked to do. I think they’ve [the City Council] been satisfied with the work.”

He specifically pointed to efforts to secure federal funds for school construction.

Mike Clendenin, a Vallone spokesman, said Ickes and Enright have done “an excellent job” keeping the council informed about federal issues involving workfare, education and transportation.

“It’s important for us to have our own link to Washington since so much that goes on there filters down to the state and city,” Clendenin added.

Mayor Giuliani maintains his own lobbying operation in Washington, as does Gov. Pataki, the state Assembly and the state Senate.

No one questions Ickes’ credentials or connections.

“There is no more effective lobbyist in Washington than Harold,” said one fellow lobbyist. “He knows all the players.”

But some council members, in private, wonder whether taxpayers are getting their money’s worth.

“I’ve never seen him,” said one council member. “What does he do for us?”

One thing Ickes does is enhance the political stature of Vallone, a candidate for mayor in 2001. In February, for example, Ickes arranged for Vallone, a Democrat, to meet with Vice President Al Gore.