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Interest Groups Rack Up Record Spending on Lobbyists


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Special interest groups have set a new spending record for lobbying in California. The government watchdog group Common Cause has issued its report on who’s spending, who’s raising money.. and how much.


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(Sacramento, CA)
Thursday, February 2, 2012

Interests like labor unions, business groups, cities and counties spent a combined $285 million to lobby state government in 2011. California Common Cause says the previous record was $281 million in 2008.  Policy Analyst  Phillip Ung says the report also focuses on lobbying activity.

UNG: "In 2011, there were 1,948 registered lobbyists and placement agents here in California.  That's about a 16-to-one ratio to legislators. So that's sixteen lobbyists for every one legislator…"

Common Cause reports the California Teachers Association topped the lobbying list last year-spending more than $6.5 million dollars. 
 
Other top spenders included a mix of interests, like the Service Employees International Union, the Western States Petroleum Association and the City of Vernon, which was fighting legislation to dissolve its local government.
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