NYPIRG Report Drills Down on Lobbying In New York

This week, NYPIRG released “A Closer Look at 2011’s Record-Breaking $220M Lobbying Total,” comparing 2011 lobbying spending with that of 2010.  They also identify the entities whose spending growth was the largest from 2010 to 2011.

As has been widely reported, the pro-Cuomo Committee to Save New York spent $11.9 million, putting them at the top of the overall spending list.  Since the group did not spend in 2010, they also topped the high growth list.

The Health Care Education Project (made up of the SEIU/1199 health care union and Greater New York Hospital Association) increased their spending from $3.6 million in 2010 to $6.8 million in 2011.

Wal-Mart was number three on the overall list, spending $2.8 million in 2011. The company is trying to break into the New York City market over major opposition.

The only other group that spent over $1 million was New Yorkers United for Marriage, which led the successful effort to get the Legislature to approve same sex marriage.