From the Peoria Journal Star:
4/21/08
SPRINGFIELD: Lobbyists a good value for central Illinois entities
BY ADRIANA COLINDRES
of GateHouse News Service
SPRINGFIELD - Local governments and public agencies spent more than $5 million to pay lobbyists to keep an eye on state government during the most recently completed fiscal year, according to a new study.
Three governmental bodies in the Journal Star area turned up in the report from the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. They paid a combined $24,500 for lobbyists in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2007.
The three were:
Peoria County, which paid $14,000 to Anderson Legislative Consulting of Springfield.
Peoria Civic Center, which paid $1,500 to John Holub of Rockford and $1,500 to Zack Stamp Ltd. of Springfield.
McLean County, which paid $7,500 to Anderson Legislative Consulting.
Nothing in those three governmental bodies? lobbying activities "seemed unusual," said David Morrison, deputy director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, which prepared the new study.
Officials from Peoria County, the Peoria Civic Center and McLean County said the money they spend on lobbyists is a good investment. The lobbyists monitor state government, helping to pursue legislative initiatives their clients support and alerting them to legislation that could affect them.