The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission just released its May 2009 newsletter and we thought it’d be a good idea to take a look at top lobbying dollars being spent in Frankfort.

51 businesses and organizations spent over $20,000 (each) lobbying between January 1st and March 31st.

Let’s take a look at some of them:

DaVita, Inc., a California-based provider of dialysis services. $25,500 per month for five lobbyists in January, February and March for a total of $76,500. DaVita spent $149,500 in Kentucky in just 12 months last year.

Altria Client Services, Inc., and its affiliates which include U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. and Philip Morris USA, spent $78,000. Altria spent $56,000, including $46,700 paid to three lobbyists and UST Public Affairs paid four other lobbyists $22,000 through MultiState Associates Inc.

Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, spent $74,386, including $23,625 per month to six lobbyists and $3,511 on Chamber Day 2009.

Reynolds American, Inc., parent of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., spent $67,145 on lobbying, including $24,335 to seven lobbyists and $42,810 in phone bank expenses for February and March. Almost $43,000 on telephone calls!

Kentucky Medical Association, a professional organization for physicians spent $55,000, including $53,000 to four lobbyists.

Kentucky Retail Federation, a non-profit group that represents 6,000 retailers, spent $50,000, $46,243 of which went to four lobbyists.

Kentucky Education Association, an organization made up of school employees, spent $48,928, $39,600 of which went to eight lobbyists.

See the rest of the list after the jump…

Norton Healthcare, Inc. spent $45,520, almost all of which went to nine lobbyists.

University Healthcare, Inc., a Medicaid-managed care plan which does business as Passport Health Plan, spent $45,000 on five lobbyists.

AmeriHealth Mercy, which administers Passport, spent $15,000 on five lobbyists.

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth spent $41,000, $24,900 of which went to 26 lobbyists and $16,000 that went to lobbying expenses.

Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation, which we’ve discussed in-depth thanks to a fancy homophobic firing a few years ago, spent $40,647 on five lobbyists.

Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. spent $12,000 on three lobbyists.

Kentucky Justice Association, a group of 1,400+ attorneys, paid $40,100 to two lobbyists.

Kentucky Association of Counties spent $33,800 on six lobbyists. KACo spent $44,000 during last year’s session and $110,000 during all of 2008.

Coal County Coalition spent $6,500 on two lobbyists, $6,300 of which was compensation

County Clerks’ Association spent $21,100

Magistrates & Commissioners Association spent $14,900

County Judge/Executive Association spent $14,200

Sheriffs Association spent $12,170

Jailers’ Association spent $10,670

County Attorneys Association spent $4,670

Property Valuation Administrators Association spent $3,550

Kentucky League of Cities spent $14,000, $11,600 of which went to ten lobbyists and $1,913 for a reception

Jefferson County League of Cities spent $3,200 on its lobbyist

Several other government and related organizations spent comparable amounts during the 2009 session. But, well, you’re gonna have to do your own research on that front cause our eyes are glazed over.