 |
||
|
May 26, 2005 Billings Gazette from Associated Press HELENA -- Spring Creek Lodge, a residential facility for juveniles affiliated with the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools, was listed as being among the top spending lobbyists in Montana during the 90-day 2005 legislative session. The Legislature only meets once every two years. The spending report was complied by the state's political practices office. In all, 411 special-interest groups and state and local governments spent $4.78 million to try to influence legislation. That is the equivalent of about $31,900 per lawmaker. The total spending is nearly 47 percent more than the $3.2 million spent in the 2003 Legislature. Lobbyists spent $3.1 million during the 2001 session and $3.5 million in the 1999 Legislature. Spring Creek Lodge spent $56,677 during the 90-day period, successfully defeating legislation which would have required therapeutic boarding schools to be licensed and regulated by the state.
| ||