From the Daily 'Herald

Local governments spend millions lobbying state officials
By John Patterson | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 4/21/2008
SPRINGFIELD - Several suburban governments ranging from DuPage County to Harper Community College are among more than 100 local government entities who spent more than $5 million last year lobbying state officials.
At least 14 different lobbying firms received nearly $700,000 last year from Chicagoland's four bus and train agencies as they pushed lawmakers for sales tax increases to stave off their own cuts and fare increases.
The voluminous research released Monday by the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform found discrepancies in the required reporting and suggested state lobbying laws be tightened.
There is no singular "gotcha" finding in the report. Instead, Campaign for Political Reform officials said it's intended to shine a light on how much local governments are spending in taxpayer money lobbying the state.
"Cities of all sizes, transit agencies, school districts and many other local governments have turned to professional lobbyists for a variety of reasons," said campaign executive director Cynthia Canary. "(The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform) leaves it to local taxpayers to determine whether the lobbying services were necessary and whether the fees paid to lobbyists were fair."
State law already requires lobbyists to register with the state and disclose their clients. They also must disclose how much they spend on meals, golf and other lobbying activities and which lawmakers or officials benefited.
Looking to go a step further, the Campaign for Political Reform filed dozens of legal requests with government entities across the state, seeking information how lobbying contracts and how much was being spent and which lobbyists got the money.
It is that information that was released Monday.
The DuPage County Board spent $115,830 on two lobbying firms, making it one of the top 15 government spenders on lobbyists. The RTA topped the list having spent $223,600.
Last year, DuPage officials wanted lawmakers to approve giving the county the ability to have its own cigarette tax to balance county spending and avoid cuts and layoffs. That didn't happen, but ultimately the county got an additional sales tax as part of the mass transit bailout earlier this year.
Elsewhere, records show the various school districts, villages and cities hired lobbyists to go after specific projects and also to make sure the communities interests were represented at legislative hearings and other discussions.
Harper College, for instance, has been pushing for a four-year degree program that needs lawmakers' approval. Records also show its lobbyists were pursuing a $4.25 million grant from Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration.
Schaumburg paid $6,000 monthly to the firm of Advanced Practical Solutions to have its lobbyists press for a full interchange at Roselle Road, restore $616,000 in state funding to the Woodfield Area Children Organization and improved access at Meacham Road and I-90.
Lake Barrington paid the same lobbying firm $24,000 to stay atop transportation and environmental issues important to the village.
Similarly, Huntley officials paid $5,000 monthly to the Morreale Public Affairs Group to help pursue widening Illinois 47 and a complete interchange at I-90.
But even the records turned over Monday reflect only a miniscule amount of the overall lobbying that goes on at the Capitol.
Canary estimated "tens of millions of dollars" are spent on behalf of corporations, labor unions and myriad special interest groups who aren't required to turn over such information.
"What the public doesn't know is what special interests in the private sector are spending to try to pass or kill legislation and to impact actions in the executive branch," Canary said.
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