Wisconsin lobbyists spend $15.9M in first half of 2013

By M.D. Kittle | Wisconsin Reporter

MADISON — What does $15.9 million buy you?

Either a lot of legislative attention, or not nearly as much as you might believe.

Wisconsin’s registered lobbyists spent a combined $15,924,285 in the first six months of the year trying to make their case to state lawmakers. At a total of 112,570 lobbying hours, that works out to more than $141 per hour.

The figures are as of late Wednesday afternoon. Lobbyists and lobbying principals registered with the state Government Accountability Board are required by law to file their statement of Lobbying Activities and Expense Report for the first six months of 2013 by midnight Wednesday. A GAB official expected a few stragglers. GAB’s full lobbying report should be released within the next week, according to the agency.

The latest lobbying figures best expenditures during the same period of 2012 by more than $2 million, when lobbyists spent $13.91 million rubbing elbows at the Capitol.

Topping the list of big spender lobbyists, so far, is the Wisconsin Insurance Alliance. The organization, which represents the property and casualty insurance industry, spent $357,167 on lobbying activities between January and June, according to its filing with the Government Accountability Board.