HELENA – Lobbyists spent nearly $6 million to influence politicians during 2008 and the 2009 Montana legislative session, according to the state political practices commissioner.
The money amounts to about $40,000 per legislator in the 150-member body, which is roughly the same amount that was spent during the 2007 session.
The top spender was the power company PPL Montana, which spent about $184,000. The Montana Association of Realtors came in second with about $152,000 in spending, followed by the Montana Association of Counties and the teachers’ lobby MEA-MFT.
Dave Hoffman, who lobbied for PPL Montana during the session, said the company is fastidious about reporting its political spending.
“We would rather over-report than underreport,” Hoffman said.
The slate of bills before legislators also shapes spending patterns, because in some sessions lobbyists must tackle more complex legislation or more bills than in others.
“Because the issues have gotten so complex, we have relied more and more on attorneys to help us,” said Peggy Trenk, chief executive officer for the Montana Realtors Association. The business group had a stake in complicated bills involving land use, water, and taxes during the 2009 session, she said.
Since 1980, under a change imposed by voter initiative, state law has required companies or interest groups to regularly report how much they spend trying to influence lawmakers’ votes.
But Commissioner of Political Practices Dennis Unsworth said the expenses reported may not be entirely accurate, because lobbyists interpret the rules differently.
“Some principals report just the moment spent speaking to a legislator, just the minute, while others report all of the time spent at the Capitol,” Unsworth said.
While his office has the authority to audit the reports, Unsworth said, it has never received the money from the Legislature to do so.
Any business or group that spends more than $2,400 in its efforts to sway lawmakers must register with the state. Transportation and lodging are not included in that tally.