From the Daily Herald:

Suburbs, schools spend millions on lobbying state officials
By John Patterson | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 4/22/2008
SPRINGFIELD - Several suburban governments ranging from DuPage County to Harper Community College are among more than 100 local government entities that altogether spent more than $5 million last year lobbying state officials.
At least 14 different lobbying firms received nearly $700,000 from the Chicago area'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, Illinois Campaign for Political Reform officials said it's intended to shine a light on how much local governments spend 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, in releasing the report. "(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 Illinois Campaign for Political Reform filed dozens of legal requests with government entities across the state, seeking information on lobbying.
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.
Fred Backfield, DuPage County's chief financial officer, said lobbyists help protect the county's interests when myriad laws ranging from zoning to construction spending are being bandied about the Capitol.
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 various school districts, villages and cities hiring lobbyists to go after specific projects.
Harper College, for instance, was pursuing a $4.25 million grant from Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration. It also has been pushing for a four-year degree program that needs lawmakers' approval.
Schaumburg paid $6,000 monthly to the firm of Advanced Practical Solutions to have its lobbyists press for a full interchange at Roselle Road, restoration of $616,000 in state funding to the Woodfield Area Children's 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 Route 47 and a complete interchange at I-90.
Andy Kimmel, spokesman for the Lake County Forest Preserve District, said their agency's lobbyist updates local officials about every other week and tracks proposals that could affect the district.
Spokeswoman Evelyn Schiele said College of Lake County needed a lobbyist to help secure funding for a new building at the Waukegan campus. She said the state has stopped funding capital projects for community colleges, but the lobbyist keeps CLC's story in front of lawmakers.
"The lobbyist should position the college well should the logjam break and the funding open up," she said. "The lobbyist helps tell our story."
But even the records turned over Monday reflect only a minuscule 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 numerous 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.
Biggest spenders
Fifteen units of government spent more than $100,000 on lobbying in 2007, according to the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.
Regional Transportation Authority, $223,600
Chicago Transit Authority, $220,173
City Colleges of Chicago, $213,200
Metropolitan Water Reclamation Dist., $162,949
Pace, $133,800
Chicago, $127,257
Metra, $122,004
Chicago Public Schools, $120,000
Crestwood, $120,000
Illinois Housing Development Authority, $120,000
DuPage County Board, $115,830
Southern Illinois University, $115,000
Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority, $114,951
Chicago Park District, $110,000
Aurora, $102,101
Suburban spending
Here is a breakdown of suburban units of government, the lobbyists they hire and their total spending on lobbying for 2007.
Unit of Govt. Lobbyists Contract Total
Aurora Civic Center Zack Stamp Ltd. $1,500 $3,000
John Holub $1,500
Aurora Dan Shomon, Inc. $102,101 $102,101
Bartlett Cullen & Assoc $62,500 $67,936
Dan Shomon, Inc. $5,436
Carpentersville Dist. 300 Hinshaw & Culbertson $28,347 $28,347
College of DuPage V.A. Persico Consulting $24,480 $48,960
Paula Johnson Perdue $24,480
College of Lake County Jeffrey A. Dixon $25,191 $37,191
Paul Williams $12,000
Cook County commissioners Morrill & Assoc. $40,082 $40,082
Cook County state's attorney Gerardo Dejesus Reyes $41,666 $41,666
Des Plaines All-Circo, Inc $73,333 $73,333
DuPage County Board Hadfield Consulting $79,999 $115,830
VA Persico Consulting $35,831
DuPage Board of Health John Wyma & Assoc. $88,000 $88,000
DuPage Election Commission Sorling, Northrup et.al. $33,000 $33,000
DuPage recorder's office Capitol Consulting Illinois $18,000 $18,000
DuPage Forest Preserve PAR Sol. / Govt. Nav. $48,833 $75,333
Illinois Govt. Consulting $26,500
DuPage state's attorney Roger C. Marquart & Co. $36,000 $36,000
Elgin Community College Adv. Practical Solutions $47,500 $47,500
Elgin Steven Nemerovski $27,500 $27,500
Elgin Dist. U-46 Luking & Assoc. $24,000 $24,000
Glendale Heights Fidelity Consulting Group $15,000 $15,000
Glenview Cullen & Assoc. $40,000 $40,000
Harper College Adv. Practical Solutions $60,000 $84,000
Michelle Teresa Olson $24,000
Huntley Morreale Public Affairs $45,000 $45,000
Lake Barrington Adv. Practical Solutions $24,000 $24,000
Lake County Forest Preserve Kolkmeier Consulting $21,000 $21,000
Lombard Marquardt & Co. $46,000 $46,000
Naperville Govt. Affairs Specialists $60,000* $32,220
Rosemont Michael A. Cohen $25,000 $25,000
Schaumburg Adv. Practical Solutions $60,283 $60,283
Waukegan Dist.. 66 Hinshaw & Culbertson $15,888 $15,888
West Chicago Marquardt & Co. $18,000 $18,000
Wheaton Govt. Consulting Solutions $36,000 $36,000
*ICPR number of $32,220 corrected by Naperville officials
Source: Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, except where noted