Add It Up: Thick wallets, Gold Dome
February 18, 2008 at 5:00 am by Thomas Wheatley in Add it upNumber of registered lobbyists in Georgia, as of 2007: 1,492
Amount lobbyists spent on Valentine’s Day for legislators and their spouses last year: $16,000
Amount lobbyists spent in 2007 on meals, tickets, entertainment and other perks for legislators: $1.4 million
Amount spent during 2008 legislative session, as of press time: $311,620.58
Number of groups represented by lobbyists under the Gold Dome in 2007: 5,203
Ratio of lobbyists to legislators: 6:1
Georgia’s grade, out of 100, for lobbyist finance disclosure reports: 63
Georgia’s national rank in terms of disclosure reports: 18
Number of legislators who became lobbyists after leaving office, as of 2005: 41
Number of years a legislator has to “cool off” before going from public office to professional lobbyist: 1
Annual salary of Georgia legislator, excluding per diems and expense account: $17,341
Average monthly retainer paid to a business lobbyist by one company: $2,000-$6,000
Sources: The Center for Public Integrity, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia Trend, State Ethics Commission
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