Spending to lobby Kentucky lawmakers hits a new high

Republished from Kentucky Lantern

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Highest-paid lobbyists 

Currently, 688 lobbyists are registered with the ethics commission. The top lobbyists are by far the highest-paid people who work in the Capitol. For context, consider that Gov. Andy Beshear’s salary is $179,443.

Here are the 25 people who were paid the most to lobby the General Assembly in 2024, according to the ethics commission website. Each of these lobbyists represents many different clients. Listed with each name is the lobbying firm the lobbyist works for, the number of clients represented by the lobbyist, and the total amount in fees paid to the lobbyist by all of those clients. Below each name are five of that lobbyist’s largest clients.

 Patrick M. Jennings, Commonwealth Alliances, 79 clients, $975,237

Clients include: AT&T, The Jockey Club, Ky Hospital Assn., Liberty Initiative Fund, United Parcel Service

John T. McCarthy III, McCarthy Strategic Solutions, 108 clients, $795,552

Clients include: Churchill Downs, Altria Client Services, National Mentor Holdings, Netsmart, Ky Optometric Assn.

Stephen S. Huffman, HCM Government Relations, 27 clients, $773,800

Clients include: The Red Mile, Revolutionary Racing, Keeneland, IGT, American Municipal Power

Robert A. Babbage, Babbage Co-Founder, 42 clients, $731,940

Clients include: Angel’s Envy, Cash Express, PrizePicks, Tyler Kentucky, Underdog Fantasy

Sean Cutter, MMLK Government Solutions, 62 clients, $711,173

Clients include: CoreCivic, Humana, RAI Services, Google LLC, Merck Sharp & Dohme

Jason Bentley, MMLK Government Solutions, 58 clients, $653,890

Clients include: RAI Services Company, Ky Distillers Assn., Ascend Elements, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, LG&E and KU Energy

Ronald Pryor, Capitol Solutions, 9 clients, $646,186

Clients include: LifePoint Health, HCA Healthcare, Ky Hospital Assn., Murray State University, Tyson Foods

Kelley Abell, The Rotunda Group, 26 clients, $630,374

Clients include: McKesson, Motion Picture Assn., Dish Network, BrightSpring Health, Ky Assn. of Adult Day Centers

Katherine W. Hall, Commonwealth Alliances, 79 clients, $624,593

Ky Assn of Health Care Facilities, Republic Services, Scholastic Inc., Gainwell Technologies, Ky Veterinary Medical Assn.

Chris Nolan, MMLK Government Solutions, 62 clients, $623,053

Kentucky Distillers‘ Assn., Nucor Corp., GoodRX, Humana, Tri-Arrows Aluminum, National Assn. of Vision Care Plans

James Higdon, MMLK Government Solutions, 62 clients, $615,255

RAI Services, Unite US, Centegix, Humana, Autonomous Vehicle Industry Assn.

Laura E. Owens, JYB3 Group, 35 clients,  $502,000

Clients include: Powerhouse Gaming, Baptist Health, Cumberland River Behavioral Health, Cooper Surgical, Uber Technologies

Amy Wickliffe, McCarthy Strategic Solutions, 95 clients,  $501,358

Clients include: Pfizer, Ky Realtors, Churchill Downs, Al J. Schneider Company, Ky Dental Assn.

Jason P. Underwood, Capitol Strategies, 6 clients, $500,600

Client include: Enervenue, United Healthcare Services Inc., Heaven Hill Distilleries, American Wagering, Airbnb

Mike Biagi, The Rotunda Group, 21 clients, $461,541

Clients include: Kentucky Downs, Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Kentucky Credit Union League, Chewy Inc., McKesson

Stephanie L. Stumbo, Commonwealth Advocate, 10 clients, $400,800

Clients include: NextEra Energy, Kentucky Petroleum Marketers, Pikeville Medical Center, Grover Gaming, Kentucky Guild of Brewers.

Trey Grayson, FBT, 26 clients, $384,358

Clients include: Kentucky County Clerks’ Assn., Risepoint LLC, Kentucky Retail Federation, Secure Elections Project, Wellpath

John P. Cooper, Capital Link, 22 clients, $383,687

Clients include: Toyota Motor North America, Kentucky Bankers Assn., Kentucky Medical Assn., Amazon.com Services, Bank of America

Marc Wilson, Top Shelf Lobby, 36 clients, $364,632

Clients include: Sports Betting Alliance, Community Choice Financial, Cincinnati Bell, Mountain Comprehensive Care, Kentucky Beer Wholesalers Assn.

Steve Robertson, FBT, 26 clients, $345,178

Clients include: Lancaster Colony Corp., Waterford.org, Pharmaceutical Research and Manuf. Of America, City of Ashland, Yes Every Kid Inc.

Rebecca Hartsough, Babbage Co-founder, 37 clients, $318,500

Clients include: FC Cincinnati, Kentucky Health Departments Assn., Novo Nordisk, Grant Ready Kentucky, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport

Timothy R. Corrigan, The Rotunda Group, 22 clients, $304,372

Clients include: Dow Chemical, American Assn. for Marriage & Family Therapy, Suntory Global Spirits, Waterfront Botanical Garden, Outfront Media

Collin Johnson, Commonwealth Alliances, 81 clients, $301,680

Clients include: Kentucky Hospital Assn., Western Kentucky University, Kentucky Association of Counties, American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, AT&T

Richie Sanders, Capital Link, 15 clients, $294,000

Clients include: Houchens Industries, Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, Friends of LifeWorks, Allen County-Scottsville Industrial Development Authority, Turning Point Brands

Julia Crigler, Commonwealth Alliances, 73 clients, $292,767

Clients include: Kentucky Cable Telecommunications Assn., Coinbase Inc., Accelerate Learning Inc., Cicero Action, Clean Slate Initiative

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https://kentuckylantern.com/2025/01/17/spending-to-lobby-kentucky-lawmakers-hits-a-new-high/