Big Spenders at the Legislature

From MPR:

Posted at 4:56 PM on March 19, 2010 by Tom Scheck

The Minnesota Campaign Finance Board released its report of spending at the Minnesota Legislature in 2009.

The report shows that the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce continues to be the top spending at the State Capitol. The business advocacy group spent $1.8 million on lobbying in 2009.

Education Minnesota, the state's teacher's union, spent $1.38 million on lobbying in 2009. That's double what the union spent in 2008.

Three energy firms, Xcel Energy ($980,000), Flint Hills Resources ($920,000) and Center Point Energy ($860,000) rounded out the top five with the Minnesota Business Partnership ($860,000).

Here's the top ten spenders:

1) MN Chamber of Commerce $1,800,000
2) Education MN $1,380,000
3) Xcel Energy Services Inc $980,000
4) Flint Hills Resources LP $920,000
5) CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp d/b/a CenterPoint Energy MN Gas $860,000
5) MN Business Partnership Inc $860,000
7) Minneapolis Radiation Oncology Physicians $680,000
8) League of MN Cities $625,619
9) MN School Boards Assn $620,000
10) MN Auto Dealers Assn$452,000