$67 million spent to lobby California in 1st Quarter 2012

Media Contact:

May 2, 2012

Phillip Ung (916) 520-4070

$67 million spent to lobby California in 1st Quarter 2012

Near record spending for the beginning of a calendar year

Sacramento, CA -Lobbying interests spent $66.9 million influencing California’s government in the first three months of 2012; a near-record bested only by the 1st quarter of 2008 at $68 million. If trends continue, California Common Cause projects 2011-2012 will set a new two-year record in influence spending.

Compared to other sectors, government interests, which include local, county, tribal, and special districts, spent the highest amount in the 1st quarter with $11 million from 411 different entities.

There have now been 2083 registered lobbyists during the 2011-2012 session, surpassing the symbolic 2000-mark milestone for the first time in California history. The increase in registered lobbyists is a direct consequence to recent laws that required placement agents, who work closely with CalPERS and CalSTRS, to also register as lobbyists.

Please contact Phillip Ung if you have questions, in need of more information, or wish to schedule an interview.

California Common Cause is a non-partisan, non-profit that strives to strengthen our democracy by empowering our members, supporters and the general public to take action on critical policy issues.