Although it is probably not ideal to admit, as a former lawmaker, that I actually “feared” lobbyists, it is true that I did…at least one. I disclose lobbyist in my book, The Golden Years…The Florida Legislature, ’70s and ’80s. Reflections on Campaigns and Public Service, on page 106. I am sure most readers would guess that the ‘most feared’ might be from the powerful utilities, banks, insurance, trial lawyers, or development industry. No, they were easy compared to this titan. Actually the titan was petite–maybe 5 foot 4 inches, with the sweetest smile and a sharp mind.
The lobbyist I most feared was Donna Lou Askew, the Governor’s wonderful wife. Why…because she lobbied for the Children’s Home Society, which was very special to me. But that was not all. I can still remember Mrs. Askew’s question to me after I tried to explain that the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations’ Committee had told all of the Subcommittee Chairman, including me, that budgets were to be frozen, “Bob, what’s happened to you. Rube and I thought so much of you?”
Aaahhhh. I said to my staff, “I don’t care what the Chairman said, put the Children’s Home Society money back in the budget…I can’t take this.” The lobbyist I most feared…Donna Lou Askew.
