• YouTube
  • Find us on the web:

Kentucky taxpayer-funded lobbying

Taxpayer-funded lobbying is government to government lobbying. Counties, cities, school districts, public facilities, and associations of public employees frequently use public funds to influence legislation and appropriations at the state and federal levels.

This practice is controversial because public funds are spent to lobby for an agenda not subject to direct approval by voters, and outcomes may be contrary taxpayers benefit.


[edit] Federal lobbying

Several local entities in Kentucky have lobbied the federal government.

  • Bell County spent $40,000 in 2005.[1]
  • Boone County spent at least $200,000 from 2005-2007.[2]
  • Harrison County spent a combined $120,000 for 2003 and 2004.[3]
  • Henderson County has been active in federal lobbying since 2004. Since then, the county has only spent more than $10,000 in 2005-2006, in which the county accrued $100,000. [4]
  • Larue County has been active in federal lobbying since at least 2005. In 2007, 2009, and 2010, the county spent a reportable $43,080. The other years, the county did not spend more than $10,000, so it did not need to report specific numbers. [5]
  • Madison County spent $20,000 in 2005.[6]
  • Meade County has been active in lobbying since 2002.[7]

Cities in the state also lobby the federal government.

  • Hodgenville was active in federal lobbying from 2005-2008. [8]]
  • Louisville spent $30,000 in 1999.[9]
  • St. Regis Park was active in lobbying in 2004 and 2005. [10]

Public universities have lobbied the federal government.

  • University of Kentucky College of Medicine lobbied between 2002-2005.[11]
  • University of Kentucky has lobbied annually since 2002 to the present year, 2010. [12]
  • Western Kentucky University lobbies on an annual basis since at least 1998.[13]

[edit] Associations

Taxpayer-funded associations to which local governments belong (see below) are active in lobbying. The Kentucky League of Cities makes available it's annual legislative priorities.[14] The Kentucky Association of Counties has been active in lobbying the federal government for at least 2005.[15]


[edit] Taxpayer-funded lobbying associations

The following is a list of Kentucky taxpayer-funded lobbying associations by type:

[edit] Municipalities

[edit] County

[edit] Emergency services

[edit] Justice

[edit] Public employees

[edit] School

[edit] Other


[edit] References

  1. ↑ Open Secrets - Bell County
  2. ↑ Open Secrets - Boone County
  3. ↑ Open Secrets - Harrison County, KY
  4. ↑ Open Secrets - Henderson County
  5. ↑ Open Secrets - Larue County, KY
  6. ↑ Open Secrets - Madison County, KY
  7. ↑ Open Secrets - Meade County, KY
  8. ↑ Open Secrets - City of Hodgenville, KY
  9. ↑ Open Secrets - City of Louisville, KY
  10. ↑ Open Secrets - City of St Regis Park, KY
  11. ↑ Open Secrets - Univ of Kentucky College of Medicine
  12. ↑ Open Secrets - University of Kentucky
  13. ↑ Open Secrets - Western Kentucky University
  14. ↑ 2011 Legislative Agenda - Kentucky League of Cities
  15. ↑ Kentucky Association of Counties - Open Secrets
v • d • e
Kentucky taxpayer-funded lobbying associations
Certificate 48x48.png
v • d • e
Lists of taxpayer-funded lobbying associations
By type

National organizations
Cities • Counties • Schools • Police • Universities

By state

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming •

Retrieved from "http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Kentucky_taxpayer-funded_lobbying"
blog comments powered by Disqus