Twisting Arms at the Statehouse

The Center for Public Integrity shows that lobbyists spent close to $1 billion to influence state governments last year. They could track only the spending in 42 states found:

• $953 million total spending in 42 states
• $48 million increase in spending over 2003
• 47,000 special interest groups lobbied statehouses
• 38,000 lobbyists hired for the job
• $130,000 per state legislator spent by lobbyists on average

Five states reported 10 lobbyists for every legislator. (CPI) [HT: IRE]