Former Arizona House Speaker-turned-Corporation Commissioner Andy Tobin is spearheading a new “Legislative Affairs Institute” through Arizona State University aimed at getting new lawmakers up to speed quicker.

In a fundraising pitch for the program obtained by the Arizona Capitol Times, Tobin estimated the total cost for educating new lawmakers would be $332,500.

The program, as outlined in the document, would essentially be a beefed-up version of the new lawmaker orientation program already conducted by the House. It would cover everything lawmakers usually learn in a new member orientation, such as introductions to key Capitol staffers, training on how to deal with the media and a mock legislative session.

Tobin wrote that the institute, which would be run through ASU’s College of Public Service and Community Solutions, would culminate in “the nation’s first University Certificate of Completion for elected’s (sic).”

But his plans for the Legislative Affairs Institute also would include bringing in guest speakers from industries, hosting dinners and social hours for new lawmakers and guests, and offering several “retreats” for lawmakers and guests after the legislative session ends – to the Grand Canyon, Tucson, Prescott and Washington, D.C.

“These weekend retreats are to be designed in coordination with House/Senate leadership for topics and priorities. Its goal is more in-depth issue review after session and build relationships between law makers (sic) and guests,” Tobin wrote.

He told the Capitol Times the point of those retreats would be to teach lawmakers about matters such as tourism and environment in Flagstaff, mining operations in southern Arizona, and other topics they should know about.

Tobin noted that when he was a freshman at the Legislature, he could have used more training on how the budget works, which is among the many topics he hopes to provide lawmakers additional training about.

In his fundraising pitch, he asks well-heeled donors to give to the ASU Foundation to pay for the new institute.

Because the ASU Foundation is a non-profit, it is not required to disclose its funders, and the public wouldn’t necessarily know who, exactly, paid for the program and what kind of access they get to lawmakers in return.

But Tobin said he suspects donors wouldn’t want to be anonymous, and he would be open to suggesting that anyone who gives to the program agree to disclose the donations. He said the program is not going to be a way for lobbyists to buy access to lawmakers, but a way for lawmakers to hear from experts in a variety of industries and gain necessary expertise from them to hit the ground running.

“If they’re looking for a quid-pro-quo, we wouldn’t have it. ASU wouldn’t have it. This is not where lobbyists get to (lobby). If you bring in lobbyists from industries, they tell you what you want to hear, and that’s not what (ASU President Michael Crow) told me he wants,” Tobin said.

And he noted that his $332,500 price tag is rough, back-of-the-napkin math.

Tobin told prospective donors the program is “based on my training and schedule that I prepared over the years at the Arizona Capital (sic).”

Mesnard’s concerns

But Republican Rep. J.D. Mesnard, who is favored to become the next speaker of the House, said he has been in communication with Tobin about the planned legislative affairs institute, and while he thinks ongoing training for lawmakers is a great idea, he is uncomfortable with the possible perception that the House would be ceding its new lawmaker orientation program to Tobin and ASU.

“I told them I wanted to create a little more of a distinction between new member orientation and this,” he said, adding that the multi-day orientation portion of the institute’s program will essentially be scrapped, since it covers the same topics as the chamber’s orientation program. Tobin said he is developing new topics for the institute to cover.

If Tobin and ASU want to make a quick pitch for their program during new member orientation, however, Mesnard said he would be fine with that.

Mesnard said when he raised his objections, ASU quickly agreed to leave the orientation to the House, and that the school “isn’t trying to usurp anything, they’re just trying to be helpful.”

He noted that ASU and other interest groups periodically sponsor trips for lawmakers to learn about issues of importance to the state or the university and he welcomed more opportunities for lawmakers to learn about the legislative process, Arizona government and major topics.

Arizona lawmakers are limited to four consecutive two-year terms in the House or Senate. Mesnard noted that the quicker new lawmakers can get up to speed, the better.

“New member orientation is just to show you where the bathroom is and where to vote. There’s a lot more to being a legislator. And by the time you’re down there for several years and figure it out, you’re termed out. So, I think there’s a lot of value helping members get off the ground more quickly, get through the learning curve more quickly. And I think that’s what ASU is trying to do,” he said.

Tobin is listed as the “program director” of ASU’s School of Public Service and Community Solutions. In the fundraising pitch, he told prospective donors the program is “based on my training and schedule that I prepared over the years at the Arizona Capital (sic).”

But Chris Herstam, a political consultant, lobbyist and former Republican state representative in the 1980s who served as majority whip and coordinated the chamber’s new member orientation back then, said in his day, ASU’s Morrison Institute helped new lawmakers learn the ropes for free.

He said Republican and Democratic leadership would show new lawmakers around the Capitol and walk them through the legislative process. Then the Morrison Institute would provide a nonpartisan overview of some of the state’s pressing issues.

“In my day, there was no subsidization by special interests and lobbyists, and they were not allowed to speak in the orientation process, and in my opinion, that’s a more appropriate way to handle it,” he said. “Lobbyists should not participate in an orientation process, and should not fund any trips or seminars for elected officials. It just creates too cozy a relationship. The perception is poor, and Lord knows that the Arizona Capitol’s image is not good these days.”

Herstam, who switched party affiliation and became a Democrat last year, has donated to one of Tobin’s Democrat opponents in the Corporation Commission election.

Not a secret

Tobin, who served as speaker from 2011 to 2014, has held a variety of jobs since he left the was term limited out of the House, and ran unsuccessfully for Arizona’s 1^st Congressional District in the 2014 election. In January 2015, Gov. Doug Ducey appointed Tobin as director of the now-shuttered Department of Weights and Measures. After that department was dissolved, Ducey appointed Tobin as director of the Department of Insurance. In December 2015, Ducey appointed Tobin to the Arizona Corporation Commission, where he is currently seeking re-election.

The fact that Tobin is now an ASU employee is news to many in the Capitol community.

But Tobin said it hasn’t been a secret – he recused himself from an issue at the Corporation Commission in March because he was an employee of ASU.

Still, his Democratic opponents for Corporation Commission, Tom Chabin and Bill Mundell seized on the news, calling on Tobin to drop out of the race.

“The news that Andy Tobin, a sitting Corporation Commissioner, is spearheading an effort to create a new program at Arizona State University to wine and dine legislators using hidden secret donations is so egregious that it redefines conflict-of-interest,” the two Democrats wrote in a press release.

The two noted that the Corporation Commission is a full-time job that pays almost $80,000 per year.

“It’s absolutely astonishing that ‘Appointment Andy’ is using his connections to get another paycheck from a public institution. And the fact that he is soliciting donations for his new effort from entities which could potentially be regulated by the Corporation Commission – companies like APS or Union Pacific Railroad, for instance – just makes it all the more appalling,” they wrote.

ASU couldn’t immediately answer questions about Tobin’s salary, and Tobin said he wasn’t authorized to disclose that – although he agreed it is a matter of public record.

ASU declined to make anyone from the school available for an interview about the nonpartisan program, but sent a statement confirming Tobin is developing the program, and stating “the academy will work with newly-elected members of the Arizona Senate and House to help them be effective representatives for their constituents, and effective stewards of the state, from their first day in office.”

Institute expenses

Tobin’s estimate on the cost of the new Legislative Affairs Institute through the ASU College of Public Service and Community Solutions shows a large chunk of the money would go towards startup costs at ASU. He said if the money doesn’t come, the institute would have to scale back plans, starting with lawmaker retreats.

Speakers and support staff – $30,000

Hotel rooms – $35,000

Meeting room rentals – $5,000

Meals – $6,000

Additional travel – $500

ASU Administration – $200,000

Travel, classes and tours in Washington DC, – $30,000

Hotels in DC – $15,000

Meals in DC – $10,000

Total – $332,500