More than 100 groups spent over $20k lobbying the Kentucky legislature. Who are they?

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Another session of the Kentucky legislature has passed, and yet another record has been set for lobbying spending.

Groups and organizations looking to influence legislation in Frankfort spent more than $9.7 million from Jan. 1 this year to the end of March, according to records from the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission. That’s not including the majority of the “veto break” period and the last two days of the legislature in mid-April.

According to the commission, this year’s mark broke last year’s record of $9.3 million for the same period.

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The top paid lobbyists through the first three months of the session were former Democratic auditor and secretary of state Bob Babbage with $298,000; Stephen Huffman of HCM Governmental Relations with $288,000; Patrick Jennings of Commonwealth Alliances with $287,000; Robby Pryor of Capitol Solutions reported $228,000; and John McCarthy of McCarthy Strategic Solutions made $221,000.

All told, more than 100 companies and organizations spent $20,000 or more in the first three months of the year on lobbying efforts. Here are all of them listed in order, based on reports made to the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission.

• Kentucky Chamber of Commerce: $151,010.08

• American Civil Liberties Union of KY (ACLU): $139,599.32

• KY Assn. of Electric Cooperatives, Inc.: $118,885.32

• LG&E and KU Energy LLC: $106,117.63

• Pharmaceutical Care Management Assn. (PCMA): $94,693.64

• Duke Energy: $86,576.89

• KY Hospital Association: $85,834.66

• KY League of Cities, Inc.: $85,109.44

• Greater Louisville, Inc.: $82,100.00

• East KY Power Cooperative Inc.: $79,507.60

• Kentuckians for the Commonwealth: $76,430.84

• Altria Client Services LLC: $73,309.20

• Frankfort Plant Board: $68,595.00

• KY Justice Association: $64,305.24

• KY Retail Federation, Inc: $64,127.66

• KY Education Association: $63,043.91

• Americans for Prosperity: $60,698.18

• Elevance Health and Affiliates DBA Anthem, Inc.: $59,946.38

• KY Medical Association: $54,050.85

• KY Primary Care Association: $49,416.00

• KY Bankers Association: $45,702.00

• KY Distillers’ Assn.: $43,487.05

• KY Assn. of Counties: $42,132.86

• Save the Children Action Network: $39,870.46

• Fairness Campaign: $38,912.74

• Dream.org: $37,742.00

• HCA Healthcare, Inc: $36,600.00

• KY Farm Bureau Federation: $36,263.80

• KY Automobile Dealers Assn. (KADA): $36,027.00

• Humana Inc.: $34,380.63

• Alliance for Automotive Innovation: $34,188.60

• Pikeville Medical Center: $34,088.00

• Churchill Downs Incorporated: $34,040.00

• Century Aluminum Company: $33,815.22

• Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of KY, Inc.: $32,233.00

• AT&T: $31,613.50

• Jefferson County Public Schools: $31,391.00

• Coalition for the Homeless: $31,367.26

• Amazon.com Services, LLC: $31,305.76

• United Healthcare Services, Inc.: $31,300.40

• RAI Services Company: $31,177.42

• Humane Society of the United States: $31,050.61

• Diageo North America: $31,035.50

• KY Assn. of Indep. Recovery Organizations (KAIROS): $30,860.00

• Enervenue: $30,000.00

• LifePoint Health: $30,000.00

• KY Rural Broadband Association: $29,113.11

• FC Cincinnati: $29,000.00

• KY Assn. of Health Plans Inc.: $28,571.54

• KY Coal Association: $28,283.50

• Texas Public Policy Foundation: $27,885.00

• Cincinnati/Northern KY International Airport: $27,352.00

• Houchens Industries: $27,264.00

• KY Equine Education Alliance (KEEP): $26,756.09

• Associated General Contractors of KY: $26,500.00

• Revolutionary Racing: $26,197.64

• Mountain Comprehensive Care Center: $25,750.00

• Sazerac Company: $25,479.17

• Google LLC and Its Affiliates: $25,149.64

• KY State Building & Const. Trades Council: $24,800.00

• CSX Corporation: $24,426.45

• KY Assn. of Health Care Facilities: $24,307.89

• KY Petroleum Marketers Association: $24,171.00

• Louisville & Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer: $24,150.00

• National Mentor Holdings, LLC: $24,000.00

• Pharmaceutical Research & Manuf. of America: $23,757.48

• Toyota Motor North America, Inc.: $23,644.00

• American Property Casualty Insurance Assn.: $23,593.64

• KY Center for Economic Policy: $23,427.95

• BlueOval SK: $23,297.58

• KY Health Departments Association: $23,158.75

• Opticians Assn. of KY: $23,144.60

• KY Assn. of Manufacturers: $23,092.00

• Louisville Water Company: $22,935.00

• Beam Suntory, Inc.: $22,764.00

• Columbia Gas of KY, Inc: $22,753.11

• CVS Health: $22,692.34

• Louisville & Jefferson County Metro Government: $22,650.00

• Charter Communications: $22,634.00

• Community Action Kentucky, Inc.: $22,527.50

• NextEra Energy Resources, LLC: $22,500.00

• Inseparable Action, Inc.: $22,500.00

• ECL Entertainment, LLC: $22,500.00

• KY Youth Advocates, Inc.: $22,432.85

• Novo Nordisk, Inc.: $22,050.00

• KY County Judge/Executive Assn.: $21,777.77

• CRH Americas: $21,750.00

• Ford Motor Company: $21,742.61

• Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund: $21,613.18

• American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network: $21,552.00

• KY Retired Teachers Association: $21,120.05

• KY Power Company: $21,067.84

• Family Foundation (The): $20,560.95

• KY Cattlemen’s Association: $20,450.00

• KY Science and Technology Corporation: $20,105.31

• Nucor Corp.: $20,028.56

• Airbnb, Inc.: $20,000.00

• Heaven Hill Distilleries: $20,000.00

• KY State AFL-CIO: $20,000.00

• Veterans Guardian VA Claim Consulting LLC: $20,000.00