Special to NKyTribune
Lobbyists and their employers reported spending about 11 percent more in the recently completed 2015 General Assembly than was spent during the previous 30-day session, held in 2013. This year, $6.98 million was reported, compared to $6.2 million spent two years ago.
However, almost all of the increase is attributed to the new ethics law requiring employers to report all spending on advertising which supports or opposes legislation. Employers reported spending $752,000 on advertising during the 2015 session.
Anheuser-Busch was the leading spender in this session, reporting $381,221, including about $330,000 spent on advertising, which supplemented Anheuser Busch’s lobbying on legislation relating to ownership of beer distributorships.
Other lobbying interests involved in the same issue were also among the top spenders, including Kentuckians for Entrepreneurs and Growth, which spent $130,118, including $101,000 on advertising; and Kentucky Beer Wholesalers, which spent $83,585, including $50,000 on advertising.
Lobbying on the “smoke-free” legislation, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network spent $135,928, including $104,173 on advertising.
The session’s other top spenders include: Altria Client Services ($120,860); Kentucky Chamber of Commerce ($95,857); AT&T ($86,137, including $28,265 on advertising); Kentucky Hospital Association ($79,565); Kentucky Retail Federation ($77,330); BSB Coalition ($71,311); Kentucky Medical Association ($61,071); Kentucky Bankers Association ($54,240); and Anthem Inc. ($51,000).
Also: Norton Healthcare ($48,000); Century Aluminum of Kentucky General Partnership ($46,353); Kentucky League of Cities ($45,631); Americans for Prosperity ($45,141); Kentucky Justice Association ($44,618); Kentuckians for the Commonwealth ($44,079); and Home Builders Association of Kentucky ($42,043).
Ethics Reporter is a publication of the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission. It is reprinted with permission.