According to federal data analyzed by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, or CRP, corporations, labor unions, collegesand universities, state and local governments and agencies and ideological groups spent a total of $3.5 billion on Washington lobbyists in the first three quarters of 2009, when there were 13,789 registered lobbyists in the capital. So far this year, clients have spent a total of $2.38 billion. And the number of lobbyists has dipped to 11,935. State and local governments across the US have spent about $52.7 million this year, according to CRP. That number has also dropped in recent years – from $95.4 million in 2009 to $75.5 million last year, the group found.
Local government, agencies ring up sizable lobbying tabs in D.C. | The Salinas Californian | thecalifornian.com
