Jeb Bush closely tied to two top grossing Florida lobbyist firms

[seafan]

Lobbyists take in $200M

By Alex Leary, Times Staff Writer
February 21, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - The price tag for influencing state government in Florida: More than $200-million.
In the second year that lobbyists have had to disclose how much they made peddling their clients' wishes to lawmakers, state agencies and the governor, a St. Petersburg Times analysis found one of the nation's largest lobbying corps earned roughly five times the payroll of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2007.
Among the biggest spenders were utility companies, health care firms, gambling concerns and a low-cost cigarette maker.

The two top-grossing lobbyist firms were those with close ties to former Gov. Jeb Bush and fellow Republican Gov. Charlie Crist. Southern Strategy Group pulled in $9.5-million; Smith & Ballard, $8-million.

"It's staggering. Government has become a major industry," said lobbyist Ben Wilcox of the political watchdog group Common Cause.

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Corporate interests "are trying to manipulate public policy," Wilcox said, "and in the end, the public ends up losing."

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Today there are 13 lobbyists for each of Florida's 160 lawmakers.

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But it wasn't until the 2005 Legislature passed a law requiring lobbyist fee disclosure that the public knew for sure how much money they made.
A well-versed and connected lobbyist often assists lawmakers in drafting bill language or influences how a state agency awards contracts. They also can play key roles in lawmakers' re-election campaigns by helping with strategy, fundraising and introductions.

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The top grossing lobbying firm for the second year was Southern Strategy Group, which reported fees between $5.6-million and $13.4-million for an average of $9.5-million.
The firm has dozens of clients, including the Florida Hospital Association, Embraer Aircraft Holding and TECO Energy. Its partners include former House Speaker John Thrasher, former Bush staffer David Rancourt and Paul Bradshaw, whose wife was once Bush's chief of staff.

Next was Smith & Ballard, which earned fees ranging from $4.4-million to $11.6-million, for an average of $8-million.

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Big bucks flow freely in lobbying industry

Lobbying is big business in Florida. Here's a look at who spent the most trying to influence the Legislature and state agencies and who earned the most peddling their clients' wishes:

The big spenders

- BellSouth (and AT&T): $1.7-million

- Florida Power & Light: $1-million

- Hartman & Tyner (gambling): $980,000

- HCA Healthcare: $940,000

- Dosal Tobacco Corp: $905,000

The big earners

- Southern Strategy Group: $9.5-million

- Smith & Ballard: $8-million

- GrayRobinson, PA: $7.2-million

- Ronald L. Book, PA: $5.2-million

- Johnson & Blanton: $4.5-million

Note: Lobbying fees were reported with high and low ranges. The numbers in this chart are averages.

Ridding our government of this scourge of lobbyists will be one of the very highest priorities of our next president.