Va. Growth Bolstered by Well-Funded Voting Bloc

Command Central

The Stewart-Lee House, a block from the Virginia Capitol, is a testament to the omnipresence of the development lobby.

Occupied by Robert E. Lee's family during the Civil War, it is owned by the Home Builders Association of Virginia and serves as command central for the industry's efforts to keep laws and regulation as friendly as possible.

The day after Kaine's speech, more than 100 builders, real estate agents, contractors and others gathered at the house for a "housing blitz" at the General Assembly. The last-minute effort was coordinated by the home builders' chief lobbyist, Mike Toalson, who armed them with committee lists, fact sheets and even pictures of the newly elected lawmakers.

"The more troops we have this year, the more effective we will be," Toalson said in a pre-blitz pep talk.

Toalson's operation is fueled by membership dues from more than 5,400 firms, according to its Web site. Those dues also finance the group's political action committee, which regularly joins with other like-minded PACs to support industry-friendly candidates.

The giving is equally robust in both chambers and is largely bipartisan. The top career recipient on the committees is House Minority Leader Franklin P. Hall (D-Richmond), who has accepted $145,844 from the industry in his 30 years in the legislature, most of that time as a member of the House majority.

Del. Terrie Lynne Suit (R-Virginia Beach), a mortgage lender, has accepted $124,052 from the building and construction trades. Sen. Ken Cuccinelli (R-Fairfax) has accepted $49,259 since 2002 and Sen. Linda T. "Toddy" Puller (D-Fairfax) has received $123,496 during her 14-year legislative career.

Republicans -- who now control both committees -- got almost $715,000, while Democrats received just over $650,000.

A handful of committee members also received gifts from contractors and home builders. The Northern Virginia Building Industry Association paid three times for Sen. Patricia S. Ticer (D-Alexandria) to go to a gala. Titan America, a contractor, bought Suit dinner.

In Virginia, it is legal to buy dinner, offer gift baskets, pay for travel and lodging or take a lawmaker to a football game or NASCAR race. The gifts must be fully disclosed.

Lawmakers say that neither gifts nor campaign contributions influence their voting on development or other issues. "They know I support housing, and they want to keep me in office," Suit said. "Does the whole lot of money make a difference in how well they are received? Absolutely not."

Toalson said the money is not the reason his organization is successful. "We represent the American dream. That's why we win these things. It's about housing," he said, adding just above a whisper: "And the other stuff helps."