The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the state's largest teachers union spent more money than other organizations lobbying in 2009.
For the second year in a row, the Chamber spent $1.8 million. Education Minnesota, the teachers union, spent nearly $1.4 million, more than twice its expenditures in 2008. Excel Energy was third with just under $1 million in expenditures.
Education Minnesota ramped up its spending on lobbying to fight cuts in education funding as the state deficit grew in 2009.
Governments were among the big spenders. The League of Minnesota Cities and the Minnesota School Boards Association ranked eighth and ninth in expenditures, with each spending about $600,000. Among tribal governments, the Mille Lacs band of Ojibwe led with over $400,000 in spending.
The report on lobbying organizations and their expenses can be found at the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board website.www.cfboard.state.mn.us/lobby/LobPrincipalExpend_Current.html
