Lobbyists spent $36.2 million in 2009, up 5.2 percent from the first half of the 2007-08 legislative session, according to a report by the Government Accountability Board.
The number one spender, according to the report, was the Wisconsin Education Association, which lobbied for a total of 7,239 hours and spent $1.5 million in 2009. This was nearly double the amount of the number two spender, which was the Wisconsin Insurance Alliance at $777,000.
Michelle Plansky, spokesperson for WEA, said it is their job to be sure the quality of education is protected and enhanced. She said the increase in spending was due to the unprecedented cuts proposed in the state legislature, and it was their job to make sure children have a voice.
The GAB is responsible for the administration and enforcement of Wisconsin laws concerning campaign finance and lobbying activities.
According to GAB spokesperson Reid Magney, the board is able to produce the report through a system with which every lobbying organization must register and file reports twice a year. The reports must state the number of hours and dollars exhausted on lobbying activities.
The 2009 report analyzes the activities of 746 lobbying principles and 750 registered lobbyists in 2009, which represents the first half of the 2009-10 legislative session.
One lobbying group that finds the report to be extremely important is the Wisconsin League of Women Voters.
“It is very important that not just the report come out, but they also have a website,” Andrea Kaminski, executive director of the league said. “People can see which lobbying groups are talking to their representatives on which issues. That way, people have a better understanding of what is being passed.”
Regarding the increase in spending and the amount of money spent by the top lobby organizations, Kaminski said she “can’t fathom spending that amount of money. We can’t just let this amount of money be spent lobbying our representatives without the public being able to see it.”
The most lobbied bill in 2009, according to the report, was the Assembly bill regarding the appointment of the secretary for the Department of Natural Resources Board. The bill would have changed the appointment of the secretary from the governor’s authority to an independent board. Nearly 3,000 hours were spent lobbying on behalf or against that particular bill, which Gov. Jim Doyle eventually vetoed.
Wisconsin law states all lobbyists’ activities must be reported on the GAB’s website within 15 days of when they begin lobbying a certain bill or issue for the bi-annual report.
Also according to Wisconsin law, it is forbidden to provide meals, entertainment or other gifts to state lawmakers, and campaign donations are limited to a certain window of time and a certain dollar amount.
