Written by Tom Latek
Kentucky today
Lobbying spending in Kentucky before the January 2024 General Assembly session hit a record high, according to data released Thursday by the Legislative Ethics Commission.
A total of $2,986,769 was spent in January, a record high for the first month of the session. The previous record for the first month of Congress was $2.66 million, set last year. Additionally, a record 891 lobbying companies and organizations registered to lobby in Kentucky, spending $2.89 million. The 718 lobbyists were paid $2,672,000 in compensation and reported expenses of $92,091.
The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce was the biggest spender on lobbying efforts in January, spending $51,414, mostly on lobbyist fees. The chamber lobbied on about two dozen bills.
The Chamber partnered with Deloitte Consulting, another registered lobbying employer, to host an artificial intelligence summit to which all members were invited and a reception for General Assembly members.
The second-highest spender was the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky (ACLU), which reported spending $29,469 primarily on lobbyist fees and currently lobbying before legislators on eight bills. .
Save the Children Action Network ranked third in spending with $28,472, including $20,000 on digital advertising and mobile billboards in Frankfort and an ad in the Louisville Courier-Journal to support child care investments in the budget. it was done.
In fourth place was Greater Louisville, which spent $27,800 on lobbying, all of which went to lobbyists. They report lobbying on eight bills, as well as priorities and issues related to corporate interests, economic development incentives, education, environment and energy, local tax reform, state budgets, talent attraction, and labor participation. did.
Rounding out the top five was the Frankfort Mill Commission with $27,605, including $10,230 in the Franklin County/Frankfort Mill Commission service area opposing a bill requiring the commission to sell its telecommunications assets. reported as advertising expenses.