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slides: Top 30 Biggest Spending Special Interests Groups at Statehouse

Thursday, June 11, 2015

GoLocalProv News Team

See what special interests and other groups have spent on lobbying at the Statehouse.

Related Slideshow: Spending on Lobbying at the Statehouse

Below are the lobby groups that spent the most at the Statehouse in 2014. All expenses are included. Data were obtained upon request from the Secretary of State’s office. Individual company and organization expenses were grouped together into lobby groups, such as the tobacco lobby, the gun lobby, the banking and finance lobby, and the pharmaceutical industry lobby. Lobbies are listed in order of least to most spent. For each, the lobby category or name is listed, the total amount spent, any key lobbyists or lobby firms, and the names of the individual companies or other organizations that comprise the lobby. Note: for each lobby only a representative few lobbyists or lobby firms are listed. The listing is not exhaustive.

#30

Lobby: Medical Services

Total Amount 2014: $70,000

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Joseph Walsh, Government Strategies Inc.; Richard McAuliffe, Mayforth Group

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Laser Spine Institute, East Side Clinical Laboratory, Radiation Therapy Services, Inc.

#29

Lobby: Advocacy Animal Rights

Total Amount 2014: $76,048

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Robert Goldberg

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Humane Society of the U.S., Rhode Island Society for the Prevention Against Cruelty to Animals, PETA

#28

Lobby: Auto Manufacturing

Total Amount 2014: $76,092

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Carolyn Murray, F/S Capitol Consulting

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Honda North America, Inc., General Motors LLC, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Inc.

#27

Lobby: Wind Energy

Total Amount 2014: $76,739

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Richard McAuliffe, Mayforth Group; Christopher Vitale, Capitol City Group

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Wind Energy Development, LLC, Deepwater Wind, Cape Wind Associates, LLC

#26

Lobby: Waste Disposal and Recycling

Total Amount 2014: $76,846

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Richard McAuliffe, Mayforth Group; Andrew Annaldo

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Sims Metal Management, Narragansett Bay Commission, Mattress Recycling Council

#25

Lobby: Renewable Energy General

Total Amount 2014: $78,087.54

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Joseph Walsh, Government Strategies Inc.

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Broadrock Renewables LLC, Acadia Center

#24

Lobby: Marijuana Industry

Total Amount 2014: $82,194

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Bradford Group

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Thomas Slater Compassion Center, MPP (Marijuana Policy Project)

#23

Lobby: Auto Tech Industry

Total Amount 2014: $93,400

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Leonard Lopes, The Victor Group, LLC; Matthew Lopes, Pannone Lopes Devereaux & West, LLC

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: AudaExplore, Applus Technologies

#22

Lobby: Car Insurance

Total Amount 2014: $95,420

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Richard McAuliffe, Mayforth Group; Robert Goldberg

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Progressive Insurance, Rhode Island Automobile Insurers Coalition, Allstate Insurance Company, AAA Southern New England

#21

Lobby: Real Estate Development

Total Amount 2014: $103,250

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Zachary Darrow, Capitol Communications Group, LLC; Stephen Alves

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: High Rock Development, CV Properties LLC

#20

Lobby: Payday Loan Industry

Total Amount 2014: $111,636

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Bill Murphy

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Advance America Cash Advance Centers, Inc.

#19

Lobby: Charter Schools and Education Reform

Total Amount 2014: $115,470

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Bill Fischer, True North Communications; Francis McMahon, Advocacy Solutions

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: RI Campaign for Achievement Now, Rhode Island Scholarship Advocates, Inc., Rhode Island Mayoral Academies, R.I. League of Charter Schools

#18

Lobby: Supply Chain Services

Total Amount 2014: $120,000

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Leonard Lopes, The Victor Group

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: McLane Company

#17

Lobby: Medical Professionals

Total Amount 2014: $127,533

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Advocacy Solutions

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: UEMF, RI Psychological Association, RI Medical Society, RI Association of Naturopathic Physicians, Rhode Island Radiology Society, Rhode Island Radiology Society, Rhode Island Optometric Association, The Rhode Island Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island

#16

Lobby: Environment and Conservation

Total Amount 2014: $148,938

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Richard McAuliffe, Mayforth Group; Abel Collins

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Sea Research Foundation, Rhode Island Land Trust Council, Sierra Club Rhode Island Chapter, Rhode Island Association for Recreational Preservation, The Nature Conservancy, Grow Smart RI, Environmental Defense Fund, Environment Rhode Island, Clean Water Action, Audubon Society of RI

#15

Lobby: Computer and Tech Industry

Total Amount 2014: $157,333

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Richard McAuliffe, Mayforth Group; William Lynch, Adler Pollock & Sheehan

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: The Travel Technology Association, Entertainment Software Association, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard Company, Consumer Electronics Association

#14

Lobby: Higher Education

Total Amount 2014: $157,513

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Francis McMahon, Advocacy Solutions

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Providence College, URI Foundation, The College Board, Johnson & Wales University, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Rhode Island

#13

Lobby: Software Industry

Total Amount 2014: $174,000

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Andrew Annaldo

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Redflex Student Guardian, DRN, Inc./Vigilant Solutions, Veritec Solutions, LLC, SAS Institute Inc.

#12

Lobby: Long-term Care Industry

Total Amount 2014: $193,550

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Joseph Walsh, Government Strategies, Inc.; Advocacy Solutions

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Visionary Healthcare Network, LLC, Rhode Island Health Care Association, Leading Age Rhode Island, Community Living of RI, Inc., Alfa, Rhode Island Partnership for Home Care, Atria Senior Living Inc., The Rhode Island Assisted Living Association, Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island

#11

Lobby: Tobacco

Total Amount 2014: $200,786

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Carolyn Murray, F/S Capitol Consulting

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: RAI Services Company, Altria Client Services Inc. and its Affiliates, Cigar Association of America, Inc.

#10

Lobby: Power Industry

Total Amount 2014: $242,001

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Francis McMahon, Advocacy Solutions; Richard McAuliffe, Mayforth Group

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: National Grid, UGI, Exelon Generation Company, LLC

#9

Lobby: Telecommunications

Total Amount 2014: $262,593

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Francis McMahon, Advocacy Solutions; Terrance Martiesian

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: CTIA - The Wireless Association, Verizon Wireless, Verizon, T-Mobile USA, Inc., New England Cable and Telecommunications Association, Inc., DISH Network LLC, DIRECTV, AT&T Inc. and Its Affiliates

#8

Lobby: General Business Advocacy

Total Amount 2014: $274,322

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Kelly Sheridan, Roberts Carroll Feldstein & Peirce; Dennis J. Roberts

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, Portsmouth Business Association, Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, Newport County Chamber of Commerce, National Federation of Independent Business, Consumer Data Industry Association

#7

Lobby: Construction Industry and Building Trade Unions

Total Amount 2014: $316,503

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Richard Sinapi; Joseph Walsh, Government Strategies, Inc.; Zachary Darrow, Capitol Communications Group, LLC

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Shawmut Design and Construction, Rhode Island Subcontractors' Association, Rhode Island Carpenters Local Union 94, Rhode Island Builders Association, American Resort Development Association, Utility Contractors Association of RI, UA Plumbers and Pipefitters - Local 51, New England Mechanical Contractors Association, National Electrical Contractors Association, Gilbane Building Company, Dimeo Construction Company, Construction Industries of Rhode Island, Civic Builders, BuildRI, Associated General Contractors, Associated Builders and Contractor, Inc.

#6

Lobby: Insurance (All Types)

Total Amount 2014: $343,941

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Stephen D. Zubiago, Nixon Peabody LLP; Kelly Sheridan, Roberts Carroll Feldstein & Peirce

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company (VALIC), RI Interlocal Risk Management Trust, Nationwide Insurance, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), MetLife Insurance, Independent Insurance Agents of Rhode Island, Explore Information Services, Amica Mutual Insurance Company & Its Subsidiaries, Beacon Mutual Insurance Company

#5

Lobby: Health Insurance

Total Amount 2014: $471,555

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Matthew Lopes, Pannone Lopes Devereaux & West, LLC; William Lynch, Adler Pollock & Sheehan

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: United Insurance Company of America, United HealthCare Services, Inc., Tufts Associated Health Maintenance, Cigna, American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (AFLAC), Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, Americas Health Insurance Plans, Delta Dental of Rhode Island, Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI

#4

Lobby: Mortgage, Banking, and Finance

Total Amount 2014: $528,808

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Joseph Walsh, Government Strategies Inc.; William A. Farrell; Stephen Alves

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: TIAA-CREF, Rhode Island Housing, Online Lenders Alliance, MERSCorp Holdings, Inc., DBA International, RI Mortgage Bankers Association, Rhode Island Financial Services Association, Rhode Island Bankers Association, Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P., FMR LLC/Fidelity Investments, Axcess Financial Services Inc., Visa, Inc., H & R Block, Credit Union Association of Rhode Island, Bank of America Corporation, RI Student Loan Authority

#3

Lobby: Gaming Industry

Total Amount 2014: $674,262

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Robert Goldberg, Bill Murphy, R. Kevin Horan

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: UTGR, Inc. (Twin River), Newport Entertainment and Leisure, LLC, GTECH Corporation, Newport Grand

#2

Lobby: Pharmaceutical Industry

Total Amount 2014: $676,307

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Matthew Lopes, Pannone Lopes Devereaux & West, LLC; Stephen Alves

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Mylan Inc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Lilly and Company, RI Community Pharmacy Association, Purdue Pharma, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Northeast Pharmacy Service Corporation, CVS Health, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, LP, Amgen, Alexion Pharmaceuticals

#1

Lobby: Hospitals

Total Amount 2014: $718,354

Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Robert Goldberg, George Caruolo, William Farrell, Stephen Alves

Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Prospect Medical Holdings, Prime Healthcare Management Inc., Charter Care Health Partners, Southcoast Hospitals Group, Inc., South County Hospital, Hospital Association of Rhode Island, Lifespan, Care New England

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