Groups spent $61 million lobbying the Legislature last year, down from $69 million in 2013, according to reports filed with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.
The decline is not surprising given that 2014 was a non-budget legislative session,
The biggest spenders reporting thus far are the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, $2.28 million; MN Action Network, $1.33 million; the Business Partnership, $1.28 million; Minnesota Association of Realtors, $746,000; League of Minnesota Cities, $630,000; Flint Hills Resources, $540,000.
Other notables include Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, $440,000; Education Minnesota (the teachers union), $420,000; the Vikings, $140,000; Indian Gaming Association, $267,600; Mayo Clinic, $200,000; Marijuana Policy Project, $140,000;
Groups also spent $5.9 million lobbying the Public Utilities Commission, up from $5.56 million in 2013. The biggest spenders were Xcel Energy Services with $1.56 million and Enbridge Energy Partners with $1.2 million.
H/t: Brian Bakst.
