Lobbyists Still Buying Meals for Md. Legislators

Susan O'Brien, a registered lobbyist who coordinated the event, said the evening provided an opportunity to strategize with legislators and get their feedback on the bill.

"I had a chance to talk with legislators for extended amounts of time that night," O'Brien said. "I don't get that when I stop people in the hall."

More than 40 people testified at the hearing two weeks later. The House committee later defeated the bill on a close vote, but O'Brien said it will be reintroduced next year, and advocates will start with a better sense of whose votes to target.

O'Brien, who specializes in public relations, said the dinner was "totally worthwhile" but unusual for her because most of her clients, including children who are victims of sexual abuse, have fewer resources. "I wish all my clients could do that," she said of the dinners.

Among those with interests in Annapolis who can afford to entertain lawmakers is Diageo, an international alcohol manufacturer that has been active in an effort to hold the line on alcohol taxes in Maryland, among other issues.

In February, Marta D. Harting, a lobbyist with DLA Piper who works in Annapolis, invited the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee to a dinner hosted by Diageo at Reynolds Tavern, a restaurant near the State House. The company reported spending $2,759 on the gathering, which has become an annual tradition in recent years.

"We have a number of issues in the state, and this is an important committee," Diageo spokeswoman Zsoka McDonald said.

The company was involved in a battle last session over whether flavored malt beverages, which it produces, should be classified as beer or distilled spirits. Legislation classifying the drinks as beer, which is taxed at a much lower rate and can be distributed more widely, was considered by another Senate committee before reaching the floor.

O'Malley resisted calls to veto the bill from health advocates and groups that fight drunken driving. Last week, he allowed the bill to take effect without his signature, saying he hopes the legislature will revisit the issue next year.