It’s that time again, ladies and ladydudes. Fancy numbers from the Legislative Ethics Commission.

$4.2 million was spent by employers of lobbyists in Frankfort during the first two months of the 2010 General Assembly. $3.9 million was spent by employers of lobbyists. $3.6 million for lobbyist compensation, $226,000 for expenses and $119,000 on receptions and events. Lobbyists have also spent about $260,000 on office expenses and roughly $16,000 on receptions and dinners.

Some highlights:

• American Insurance Association spent $2,000 in January and $14,581 in February
• Aramark spent $4,000 and $9,661
• Assurant Solutions spent $2,000 and $9,500
• Chiropractic Public Relations Committee spent $600 and $5,050
• Kentuckians For The Commonwealth spent $8,700 and $20,500
• Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities spent $8,931 and $14,368
• Kentucky State Building & Construction Trades Council spent $5,555 and $11,441
• Kentucky Youth Advocates spent $204 and $8,429
• Life Insurance Settlement Association spent $4,000 in the second month
• RAI Services (formerly Reynolds American) spent $3,250 and $20,716
• Red Mile (Lexington Trots LLC) spent $10,000 in the second month
• Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Kentucky spent $8,537 and $14,249

Outside of direct lobbying expenses, several organizations increased February spending by sponsoring events in Frankfort:

• February 1 – Kentucky Grocers Association, Food with Wine Coalition, et al spent $5,200 on a reception at the Capital Plaza Hotel
• February 3 – Coal Operators & Associates, Kentucky Coal Association, Kentucky Oil & Gas Association and West Kentucky Coal Association spent $19,032 on a reception at Buffalo Trace Clubhouse
• February 8 – Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives, Duke Energy, E.ON U.S. and Kentucky Power Company spent $4,569 on a reception at the Capital Plaza
• February 10 – Kentucky Association of Realtors spent $5,750 on a reception at the Capital Plaza
• February 16 – Commerce Lexington spent $4,700 on a reception at Buffalo Trace Clubhouse

The top spending businesses and organizations:

• Altria Client Services, Inc. – $40,664
• Kentucky Education Association – $28,914
• Kentucky Chamber of Commerce – $26,699
• Kentucky Hospital Association – $22,843
• Kentucky Association of Health Plans – $20,810
• RAI Services Co. – $20,716
• Kentucky Retail Federation – $20,559
• Kentuckians For The Commonwealth – $20,548
• Kentucky Medical Association – $20,012
• Kentucky Farm Bureau – $18,765
• Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives – $18,327
• Kentucky Bankers Association – $18,080
• Coal Operators & Associates – $15,334
• University Healthcare – $15,155
• Norton Healthcare – $14,999

And among those newly-registered employers, three companies spent considerable funds in their first month of lobbying:

• The Catfish Institute – $5,000
• General Motors LLC – $11,482
• Injured Workers Pharmacy – $6,667

The legislative session is a lucrative business, it seems.