April 9, 2013

Babbage and Pryor in Million Dollar Club

During the two-year legislative cycle covering calendar years 2011 and 2012 — which were the 146th and 147th regular sessions of the Kentucky General Assembly — contract lobbyists (lobbyists for hire) made up about 15 percent of the lobbying corps of more than 600 registered agents.

The earnings of the Top 75 contract lobbyists during the period are printed in the new Second Circle, the commonwealth’s only pictorial directory of lobbyists.

Two lobbyists made the $1 Million Club — employers during the two-year cycle paid Bob Babbage $1.3 million and J. Ronald Pryor $1.0 million.

John Cooper was a close third with $924,870. Gene McLean trailed in fourth place with earnings of $902,969.  And John Y. Brown III rounded out the top five at $821,094.

In terms of lobbying firms, MMLK Government Solutions, headed by W. Terry McBrayer, led all contract lobbying firms with $2.4 million.  Capitol Solutions, the firm of J. Ronald Pryor and Kelley Abell, was second with earnings of $1.6 million.

The new Second Circle provides a listing of all contract lobbying firms and their clients — both legislative and executive branch. Lobbyists bending the governor's ear and influencing others in the executive branch are not required to report their earnings.

Below is a listing of the Top 15 lobbyists’ earnings in the legislative branch during the two-year cycle of 2011-2012. See the Second Circle for a listing of the Top 75.