WNY businesses, governments, and private organizations spent $3.6 million on state and local lobbying activities in 2023-2024

This post includes a large table. It is best read on a computer or iPad.

Total statewide spending on lobbying activities through May 2024 was $360.6 million, up $29.1 million or 8.8 percent from the previous year.

The most recent report on lobbying was published by the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (CELG) in June.  Here are some highlights from CELG’s report:

• Healthcare remained a major focus area of lobbying activity among the Top Ten Client Spenders, including 1199SEIU Labor Management Initiatives, Inc. Healthcare Education Project; Greater New York Hospital Association; Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund; AARP; Genting NY; StudentsFirst New York Advocacy, Inc.; Siebert Williams Shank & Co.; NYS Trial Lawyers Association; and the Public Employees Federation.
• The number of lobbying registrations increased to 6,224 in 2023, up slightly from 6,153 in 2022, representing a 1.2% increase.
• The number of clients filing reports decreased, by nearly 5.9%, to 4,744 from 5,040 reported in 2022.
• The number of public corporations that registered and filed as lobbyists or filed reports as clients of lobbyists slightly decreased, from 55 in 2022 to 52 in 2023.
• The party most reported to be lobbied in 2023 continued to be the Executive Chamber/Office of the Governor.

This blog has reviewed the list of Western New York firms and organizations that employed lobbyists beginning with activities in 2014 and continuing every year since then.  You can look at reports from previous years by using the Search tool at the top of the Politics and Other Stuff website.

This post drills down to the businesses, governments, and organizations based in Western New York employing lobbyists or doing their own lobbying work in 2023-2024.  Total spending by identifiable local firms, governments, and organizations last year was approximately $3.6 million, essentially the same as the previous year.  As has been the case in recent years, the local lobbying business was led by the firm of Masiello, Martucci and Associates, which had $1,275,000 in identifiable local billings last year; that was down about $66,000 from the previous year.  O’Donnell & Associates was again second at $670,344; down by approximately $54,000 from last year.  Rounding out the local top five were E3 Communications ($244,500); Hinman Straub ($220,564); and Lippes Mathias ($164,088).

A total of twelve local governments and government agencies spent $600,252 in lobbying activity in 2023-2024.

Lobbyist firms with local clients are frequently retained by businesses and organizations that do not have a Western New York base.  Out of Western New York lobbying clients can add significant revenues to a firm’s income.

The CELG reports on “Filings Ranked by Parties Lobbied.”  The top ten “Parties Lobbied” list includes just three of the 213 state legislators.  The legislator with the most contacts was once again Senator (now Congressman) Tim Kennedy of Buffalo, who was ranked ninth.  Senator Kennedy was the Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.  A total of 855 contact filings were reported concerning Kennedy.  Governor Kathy Hochul had 774 contacts.

Certain firms and organizations represent themselves in the lobbying work and are noted without an identified lobbyist in the following list. 

Here is the 2023-2024 list of local lobbying participants:  

West Falls Center for Arts                                Masiello Martucci                        9,000

Trocaire College                                                 E3 Communications                    30,000

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