ALBANY, March 26 — New York State's largest teachers' union and its largest affiliate, in New York City, spent a combined $4.8 million on lobbying last year, more than any other special-interest group seeking influence at the State Capitol or in local governments.þþThe figures were included in a report issued today by the Temporary State Commission on Lobbying, which said spending on lobbying reached a record high of $92 million last year, compared with $80.4 million in 2001. Only twice in the last 25 years has spending on lobbying declined from one year to the next.þþLast year, for the first time, those lobbying local governments, like New York City's, were required to report their lobbying activity as of April 1, but those expenses only increased the total minimally. þþDavid M. Grandeau, the executive director of the commission, said the rise in spending on lobbying was a reflection of the increased value attached to legislation. This year, he predicted, despite the state's budget woes, lobbying will prove to be a recession-proof industry and pass the $100 million mark.þþÿSome people have a much larger interest in their legislation, because the end results have much more money attached to them,ÿ Mr. Grandeau said. ÿI don't think it's unusual, when you're playing for billions of dollars, that you're going to spend a significant amount of money, in the millions, to get your message across.ÿþþSome ÿgood governmentÿ groups, like the New York Public Interest Research Group and Common Cause, said they were troubled by the influence of money in politics and government, particularly when the lines between the two blurred.þþBlair Horner, the legislative director for the research group, said he was concerned that tens of millions of dollars used to influence government decisions about spending had not been captured in the report. He said lobbyists who tried to influence governmental purchasing decisions were exempt from the disclosure law. þþÿAnd that doesn't make any sense,ÿ Mr. Horner said.þþThe United Federation of Teachers — the New York City teachers' union — reported $2.8 million in lobbying expenses. The second-highest spender was the New York State United Teachers, the state's largest teachers' union, which reported spending $1.96 million. Spokesmen for both unions said a significant portion of that money was spent on advertising to draw attention to the need for certified teachers and to argue for higher teacher salaries.þþÿOur members have a right to have their voices heard,ÿ said Dennis Tompkins, a spokesman for New York State United Teachers. ÿThis is done through voluntary contributions. What more important issue is there than the education of our kids?ÿþþMr. Grandeau said anecdotal evidence indicated that clients were hiring separate lobbyists to work with the Assembly, the Senate and the executive branch, a strategy that some lobbyists confirmed.þþAlso, more nonprofit organizations are spending more to seek influence, said Steven B. Weingarten of Weingarten & Reid in Albany, one of the fastest-growing lobbying firms in terms of revenue last year.þþÿThere are new groups getting involved in a bigger way,ÿ Mr. Weingarten said. ÿAnd the established groups are paying more. So, that's why the money keeps going up and up.ÿþþOf course, as Mr. Grandeau said, the 10 professional lobbying firms that earned the most in the capital last year were the top 10 in 2001. As was the case in 2001, last year, the lobbying firm that earned the most last year, $5.1 million, was Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, based in New York. The firm that earned the second-highest amount, $3.6 million, was Bolton St. Johns. þþÿIt's the same people, just making more money,ÿ Mr. Grandeau said.þþ
Source: NY Times
