Michigan Lobbyists Spent just short of $32 Million for 2010 in Lansing

The Michigan Campaign Finance Network (MCFN) just released new information on the top 200 Lobbyists in Michigan for 2010.

The Lansing-based watchdog group stated in a Media Release on Thursday, “Reported Lansing lobbying expenditures totaled $31,811,476 in 2010, according to figures compiled by the Michigan Campaign Finance Network from reports filed with the Michigan Department of State. That amount is down by $38,440, or one-tenth of a percent, compared to 2009 figures.”

According to the MCFN, “The top six spenders in 2010, and eight of the top ten, were multi-client firms. Leading spenders among the multi-client firms were; Governmental Consultant Services, Inc. ($1,279,804), Kelley Cawthorne ($1,151,760) and Karoub and Associates ($1,041,575).”

Other notable big spenders in the area of lobbying for 2010 were:

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of MI            $259,378

Consumers Energy Co.                        $190,039

DTE Energy                                                $180,602

MI Retailers Assoc.                                    $160,607

Ford Motor Co.                                    $149,064

MI Beer & Wine Wholesalers            $140,194

Michigan Farm Bureau                        $120,773

MCFN director Rich Robinson noted in the Media Release that there are still serious issues of disclosure and transparency for Lobbyist reporting in Michigan. “Michigan lobbying reports reveal less than those required by the federal government and several other states. The multi-clients report their client list, but they don’t report how much they spend representing each of them. And nobody is required to report travel spending less than $725 on behalf of a lobbyable official. Those are important gaps in disclosure that should be corrected by the legislature.”