A record $384.8 million flowed into efforts to influence New York government last year, according to the Times Union. The total marks the fourth straight year that lobbying spending has reached a new high, driven largely by gaming and housing interests.
State ethics officials also uncovered $23.47 million in reporting discrepancies between what lobbyists said they earned and what clients said they paid. The agency resolved more than 92% of those differences and identified additional unreported expenses and unregistered lobbyists.
The Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government says its online database attracts more than 11 million visits annually, but lawmakers rejected a $750,000 request to modernize the system and automate error detection.
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