Lawyers Ante Up for Hill

With the two leading Democratic contenders already competing for local dollars, 2008 presidential politics is in full swing this summer.

by Mary F. Patel

With the two leading Democratic contenders already competing for local dollars, 2008 presidential politics is in full swing this summer.

Main Line attorney Richard Schiffrin, a Hillary Clinton supporter, is one of the organizers of Lawyers for Hillary, a consortium of lawyers backing and raising big bucks for the N.Y. senator. Schiffrin says it makes sense for lawyers to become involved since they have deep pockets, not to mention that Clinton is a lawyer, although her focus was corporate law. Earlier in the summer, Schiffrin hosted a fundraiser at his home for Clinton; although she did not attend due to her campaign schedule, her husband did.

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Lee Miller and Mark Chandler, respectively vice president and general counsel of Cisco, a California-based technology company, and Schiffrin were all tapped by the Clinton campaign to spearhead the lawyers' efforts. And, all three have the ability to raise large sums of money.

While lawyers and any other professional group often back various candidates, tort reform must certainly be a prevailing issue for them. (They need to litigate to survive, after all.) Schiffrin says it is a major concern, since Republicans would like to eliminate class-action suits and what they call frivolous lawsuits altogether.

"Republicans are against what they call ambulance chasers," he says, "but what happens when their child is wrongly diagnosed?"

Schiffrin, a class-action lawyer with his firm Schiffrin Barroway Topaz & Kessler, recently settled a case for Tyco shareholders in a class-action suit resulting in a $3 billion settlement. He says he believes that, if elected, Clinton will appoint moderate judges to the federal courts, not what he called "Republican extremists."

The lawyers are hosting a big fundraiser for Clinton next month in Manhattan where national dollars are expected. He is not sure yet what Clinton will talk about there, or what key issues will be of concern to the lawyers who attend.

Despite being a lawyer, he is also looking at the race from a broader perspective, such as how they'll combat terrorism and handle the environment, which is driving his need to support Clinton.

"Hillary will be the Democratic nominee," predicts Schiffrin, pointing out how expensive it is to run a presidential race. "People want to support a winner, and she is ahead in the polls."

Meanwhile, Barack Obama is, in part, raising money the Howard Dean way, through Internet donations. While Clinton is collecting large donations, Obama is taking in 5, 10 and 20 dollars through donors online. (That's not to say that Obama is not also raising big bucks, though.) His latest endeavor is "Dinner with Barack," an online invitation to supporters who could win a chance to sit down and dine with the candidate after donating even a small amount via the Internet.

A few weeks ago, four supporters were flown from their various homes to an undisclosed restaurant for dinner and conversation, the trip and meal expenses covered by the campaign.

"Small donations from ordinary Americans have set our campaign apart and allowed us to reject the influence of Washington lobbyists and special-interest groups," writes Obama in an e-mail about the dinner promotion. "Not only is your support the key to our success, it's essential to reclaiming a government that is of the people, by the people, and for the people."

PICA Slams the Eagles

Last Thursday, the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) released its staff report on the city's five-year financial plan. One interesting item appeared under the title "SkyBox Payment from the Philadelphia Eagles."

Seems the Birds have not paid their skybox rental fees of $8 million since they last played at Veterans Stadium. The report contends that until a deal is reached, the city is at a substantial risk.

Other items in the report include the fact that the city is owed $45 million from a loan to PGW, but the gas company's ability to repay depends on a rate increase that is currently before the Pennsylvania Utility Commission. Other issues: The city speculated for funds on not-yet-collected casino revenues and did not consider the downside of the social ills associated with gambling, such as the expense of treating gambling addictions; federal budget cuts will certainly continue to affect the city; and while SEPTA has approved state funding, it is there only through 2010.

The next mayor may question why he ever wanted the job in the first place when he discovers that within three months of being sworn in, he'll have to figure out a way to get the city out of debt while strategizing about how to enhance city services.

(rcpatel@aol.com)