Top 20 State House Spenders in 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
An Electoral College reform group, two casinos hoping for table game expansion and several insurance companies are among the entities that have already spent over $1 million lobbying lawmakers on Smith Hill in 2012, according to a GoLocalProv review of reports filed with the Secretary of State’s office.
In total, the top 20 biggest spenders shelled out $778,831.58 during the first three months of the legislative session, with the McLane Company—a $34 billion supply chain services provider— leading the way with $180,000 paid out to lobbyists through March.
Each of the top 20 entities have spent at least $20,000 during the year. In 2011, twelve entities ended up spending more than $100,000 over the course of the year.
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With 2012 being an election year, one factor to watch may be the amount of campaign contributions made to elected officials in exchange for support on certain pieces of legislation. Of the top 20 spenders this year, several companies have long been major contributors to lawmakers on both a local and national level.
GTECH – The world’s leader in gaming technology is always a major player when it comes to lobbyist spending. The company has already spent $61,500 in 2012 and employees have contributed $219,140 to campaign accounts since 2002, according to campaign finance reports.
Newport Grand – The General Assembly recently approved legislation that will allow voters to decide whether to allow table gaming at the tiny Newport casino, joining Twin River on the ballot. Newport Grand has spent $28,834.67 on lobbyists this year and the casino’s employees have made $124,875 in campaign contributions over the last decade.
Lifespan – The nonprofit health system that oversees Rhode Island Hospital and the Miriam Hospital has spent $36,600 on lobbyists in 2012. Over the last decade, employees have also shelled out $58,953.52 in campaign contributions to local politicians. The city of Providence is currently asking the company to begin making payments in lieu of taxes to help cover a $22 million deficit, although a deal has not been reached.
Care New England – Another major nonprofit health system, Care New England has paid $58,350 to lobbyists this year and employees have contributed $18,300 to elected officials or candidates over the last ten years.
Beacon Mutual – The insurance company has spent $22,499.93 on lobbyists through the first three months of the legislative session and employees have contributed $45,431 to campaigns over the last ten years.
Blue Cross Blue Shield – The company has spent $20,000 on lobbyists this year and employees have made $107,644.31 in campaign contributions during the last decade.
Common Cause executive director John Marion said lobbyists play a major role at the State House every year, not just in election years.
“I think lobbyists have an influence on elected officials, whether or not it's an election year,” Marion said. “While there are certain high profile issues that get a lot of publicity each election year, there are literally hundreds of other issues lobbyists are paid to advocate for that the voters may never know about.”
Money & Politics
But some believe money plays far too much of a role in the decisions lawmakers are making. In 2011, the top 35 entities spent over $6 million lobbying the State House. On the federal level, each member of Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegation has been outspoken when it comes to their stance on the role big corporations play in politics.
Earlier this year, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse joined 14 of his colleagues in calling for more transparency in campaign spending in a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The letter focused on the controversial Citizens United decision, which allows corporations to avoid disclosing their political spending.
“We believe that the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision has had profoundly negative effects for all parties in our election system, including shareholders,” the letter said. “We urge the SEC to use its rulemaking authority to issue rules that would require corporations to disclose their political spending to shareholders. The disclosures should include spending on independent expenditures, electioneering communications and donations to outside groups for political purposes, i.e., Super PACs.”
Congressman David Cicilline has also called for changes to the Citizens United decision.
"I am a proud co-sponsor of multiple legislative efforts to overturn the decision in Citizens United, including preserving Federal and State governments’ powers to regulate campaign finance, as well as clarifying that the rights granted in the Constitution apply to people and not corporations,” Cicilline said in a statement to GoLocalProv earlier this year.
Mollis Promotes Transparency
With money unlikely to disappear from politics any time soon, transparency has become the top priority, according to Secretary of State Ralph Mollis.
In a recent report card released by the Center for Public Integrity, Rhode Island receives a C+ for lobbyist disclosure. The state is particularly strong when it comes to forcing lobbyists to disclosure expenditures and providing access to lobbyist reports, but it falls short when it comes to effectively monitoring disclosure requirements.
However, Mollis has led an effort to crack down on those lobbyists who do not play by the rules. During last year's legislative session, lawmakers passed at bill that bars paid lobbyists and their firms and clients from registering for the upcoming legislative session until they have filed all their required lobbying reports.
The previous law allowed lobbyists, firms and clients to register even if they had not yet filed all their legally required reports from the previous year.
"The new law merely gives them another incentive to align their reporting practices with the spirit and the letter of the law," Mollis said.
Mollis said the goal is provide more access to the public at a quicker rate.
"This bill is win-win. We no longer will have to invest resources in a months-long process to ensure compliance and the public will have access to the information quicker," he said.
Editor's Note: A correction was made to the amount National Popular Vote has spent.
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