Data from the Connecticut Office of State Ethics (OSE) shows that a total of $38.6 million was spent on lobbying in 2009, 83% of which was spent on legislative lobbying activities. $24,284.68 of the total went directly to public officials.
These statistics and more are contained in the “State of Lobbying” report released by the OSE, which gleaned the information from _lobbyist reports filed with the agency.
Filers completed the reports using the new online filing system, introduced for the 2009 legislative session, which enables the OSE as well as any interested member of the public to search and sort through the information filed. This results in increased transparency regarding who is spending money on lobbying, what issues are being targeted, and how the money is being spent.
Reports include:
* Total Lobbyist Expenditures;
* Top 10 Issues;
* Top 10 Client Lobbyists (by expenditures);
* Top 10 Communicator Lobbyists (be revenue received);
* Top 5 Lobbyists for Media Spending; and
* Lobbyist Spending to Benefit Public Officials.
Aldon Hynes reports that “The top client lobbyists by expenditures were CBIA, Northeast Utilities, AT&T CT and Affliates, CT Hospital Association, CT Conference of Municipalities, Connecticut Bankers Association, the Knights of Columbus, Altria Client Services and Affliates, CT Association of Health Plans and the CT State Medical Society.”
