Lobbyists in Wisconsin have been busy this legislative session, spending 12 percent more in the first six months of 2010 than this time last legislative session, according to a Government Accountability Board lobbying report released last month.
Lobbying groups spent $17.7 million dollars in the first half of this year, with groups shelling out $53.9 million during the whole legislative session so far.
However, with special interest spending on the rise in general, a 12 percent increase in lobbying expenditures may not be all that exceptional in the scheme of things, said Charles Franklin, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin.
“With unified Democratic party control in the last session, it probably means interest groups were concerned that one party could pass more programs and they couldn’t rely on the other party to block things,” Franklin said. “They may have seen a bit more at stake for them this year whether they’re Republican lobbyists seeking to block legislation or more pro-Democratic groups trying to push through things.”
The Forest County Potawatomi Community topped the list for the first half of 2010, spending more than $1.1 million, nearly twice as much as the next-highest spender.
The Wisconsin Education Association still nabbed the hot seat of top spender for the 2009-2010 legislative session overall, however, spending more than $2.1 million in the hopes of getting their issues addressed by the state Legislature.
The rise in lobbying spending could indicate the increased strength of the Wisconsin lobbying industry.
“Wisconsin has a strong lobby law which requires that the public has ready access to information on the amount and sources of money used to influence legislation,” Kevin Kennedy, director and general counsel of the Government Accountability Board, said in a statement.
Groups logged the most hours lobbying environmental bills, one on renewable energy and the other on global warming. Despite the attention, neither bill passed.
The third most lobbied bill related to removing the governor’s power to appoint the secretary of the Department of Natural Resources. The bill passed but was vetoed by Gov. Jim Doyle.
