More than $14 million was spent on lobbying in Frankfort during 2009. $13.5 million was spent on compensation for more than 600 lobbyists. $460,000 was spent by employers on expenses associated with lobbying – like office expenses, lodging and transportation. $133,578 was spent on receptions, meals and events for legislators. Only $236 was spent by employers on food and beverages provided to individual legislators.

That’s quite a dip from the more than $15.7 million spent on lobbying in 2008.

So let’s dig in to the data for 2009:

• The top-spending organization was the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, dropping $229,000 for the year. $221,000 in compensation for five lobbyists, $74,000 during the three-month session.
• Five local chambers spent $168,000 on lobbying: Louisville ($74,412), Paducah ($37,250), Northern Kentucky ($22,114), Lexington (21,901) and Owensboro ($12,000)
• Altria Client Services and its affiliates (Phillip Morris – big tobacco) spent $248,000, divided between two entities. Atria spent $196,000 in 12 months, UST Public Affairs spent $52,000 on four lobbyists before ending registration on August 31.
• Kentucky Medical Association spent $153,000, including $148,000 on three lobbyists.
• University Health Care, Inc. paid six lobbyists $128,000
• Norton Healthcare, Inc. spent $115,000 on nine lobbyists
• Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare, Inc. spent over $103,000
• Kentucky Hospital Association spent $99,000
• DaVita, Inc., a California-based company that sells kidney dialysis services, spent $100,000 in 2009. (They spent $149,500 in 2008.) Five lobbyists were paid $76,500. One lobbyist made $23,000 after the legislative session.
• The Keeneland Association spent $145,000 on racing and gambling issues, mostly on six lobbyists.
• Kentucky Equine Education Project spent $104,000 on five lobbyists. KEEP has ten lobbyists registered for 2010.
• Houchens Industries spent $132,000 lobbying issues related to grocery stores, insurance and road-building
• ResCare, Inc. spent $120,000 on Medicaid issues
• Kentucky Justice Association, formerly the Academy of Trial Attorneys, spent $115,000 lobbying on workers’ comp, medical malpractice and loss of consortium
• CSX Corporation spent $111,000
• Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation spent $109,000

And here’s a major problem: final spending reports for 2009 were due by January 15. As of January 29, however, 40 employers had not filed required information including: Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Hard2HIre, Hart InterCivic, Johnson & Johnson, Kentucky Dental Association, Lilly USA and Swisher International, Inc.

Newly registered to lobby in Frankfort:

• DirecTV, Inc., Dish Network LLC and the Satellite Broadcasting & Communications Association have all hired (despite the first two being competitors) the same lobbyists to represent them in Kentucky.
• Safelite AutoGlass has hired six lobbyists
• 21st Century Parks, lobbying for the Floyds Fork Greenway (gotta get that $20 million or so that they’re asking for)
• Eco-Tech Environmental, a Louisville waste collection/disposal business
• Elk Creek Vineyards, an Owenton winery
• Equine Health and Welfare Alliance, a non-profit organized by central Kentucky veterinarians
• Fellon-McCord & Associates, a Louisville-based energy consulting firm
• Lake Cumberland Association, a tourism group
• MedX12, a Louisville health care software company
• Sullivan University
• Kentucky Association of Barbers has registered with two lobbyists
• Kentucky Association of Professional Educators has three lobbyists
• The City of Grand Rivers has registered to work for funding for a lighthouse project

The list of companies dropping off the list of registered lobbyers includes: BB&T Insurance Services, Brooklawn Child & Family Services, CNA Surety, Comdata Stored Value Solutions, Ellis Park, Expedia, GovDelivery, Hagan Properties, Harley-Davidson Motor Co., IBM, Kentucky Civil Justice Alliance, Kentucky County Attorneys Association, McDowell, Stromatt & Associates, PerformRx, RJ Corman Railroad, Safety-Kleen Systems, U.S. Enrichment Corp., Vibo Corp., and Wal-Mart Stores.