By Tony McVeigh, Kentucky Public RadioThe amount of money spent on lobbying Kentucky lawmakers has grown significantly in the last 12 years, according to the latest figures released by the state Legislative Ethics Commission. During this year’s regular session, which ended April 15th, lobbyists and their employers spent more than $8.4 million communicating with lawmakers, the executive branch and staff. Of that, $148,000 was spent on receptions. In 1998, $8.1 million was spent on lobbying during the entire year. That more than doubled by 2008, when almost $17 million dollars was spent. This year’s lobbying expenditures are on track to go even higher. During the 2010 regular session, there were 667 lobbyists, or about five lobbyists per Kentucky lawmaker. The national average among state legislatures, according to the Center for Public Integrity, is three lobbyists per lawmaker.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.
