Here are some of the findings of the lobbyist-disclosure and campaign-finance report analysis undertaken by the Phoenix, in addition to what was reported in my article in this week's issue.
First, here are the 25 biggest spenders on state lobbying efforts in 2008, including expenditures and lobbyist fees. The state's nurses easily topped the list, as they continued fighting for a staffing law. Energy companies like Conectiv and GDF Suez had plenty to fight for in last year's big energy and environment bills. Last year's biggest spender, MassEquality.org, has dropped off the list since winning the last round of the gay-marriage war.
1) Massachusetts Nurses Association $1,632,756
2) Commerce Insurance $950,000
3) Massachusetts Teachers Association $755,953
4) Retired State, County, and Municipal Employees Association of Massachusetts $663,645
5) Massachusetts Hospital Association $569,977
6) Conectiv Energy $504,250
7) Northeast Utilities $460,057
8) Associated Industries of Massachusetts $451,005
9) Sterling Suffolk Racecourse $434,850
10) Verizon $430,942
11) GDF Suez $382,548
12) BayState Health $374,316
13) Life Insurance Association of Massachusetts $357,467
14) American Petroleum Institute $328,377
15) Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts $325,857
16) Cognos Software $325,000
17) Massachusetts Medical Society $314,937
18) Reynolds American $308,746
19) Eli Lilly $301,502
20) Service Employees International Union Local 1199 $301,000
21) Harvard Pilgrim Health Care $291,501
22) Comcast Cable $290,784
23) AFSCME Local 93 $279,881
24) Arbella Insurance $276,000
25) National Grid $267,717
Next, here are the 25 top lobbying firms, ranked by client fees for state lobbying, in 2008. ML Strategies leapt from 11th in 2007 to first, thanks in large part to a half-million dollars from Conectiv Energy. Bay State Strategies doubled its 2007 figure, thanks to increased fees from a number of clients, including Harvard Pilgrim, Honeywell, and the development company behind the troubled Columbus Center project. Also moving up the list this year was McDonoungh Associates -- the lobbying firm of Richard McDonough, whose efforts on behalf of Cognos Software earned him $325,000 in 2008, as well as a world of scrutiny.
1) ML Strategies $1,827,832
2) O'Neill & Associates $1,687,506
3) Bay State Strategies $1,676,937
4) Shanley Fleming & Associates $1,461,376
5) Kearney Donovan & McGee $1,371,846
6) The Brennan Group $1,367,440
7) Johnson Haley $1,309,808
8) Suffolk Group $1,264,486
9) McDonough Associates $1,105,659
10) ADS Ventures $1,034,787
11) Karol Group $1,025,033
12) John E. Murphy Jr. $1,004,025
13) Hickey Associates $1,001,840
14) Dewey Square Group $1,000,500
15) Donoghue, Barrett & Singhal $970,766
16) Rasky Baerlein $926,021
17) Robert White & Associates $898,134
18) William F. Coyne $830,035
19) McGlynn & McGlynn $751,128
20) Delaney & Associates $730,500
21) Ferriter Scobbo $674,441
22) Issues Management Group $670,704
23) Nutter, McClennen & Fish $594,215
24) McDermott, Quilty & Miller $553,699
25) Joyce & Joyce $552,500
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