Recently The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (325 West Huron, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois 60654, (312) 335-1767, Fax (312) 335-1067,www.campaign.org) released an interesting report that found that 110 Local Governments and Public Agencies spent over $6million in lobbying activities. No Boone County government units were noted however nearly all of our neighboring county governments, larger cities and Northern Illinois University were cited for lobbying expenditures. To read the report, go to: http://www.ilcampaign.org/PDF/LGL2009-POST.pdf
Cal Skinner from www.mchenrycountyblog.com/ has extracted the following schools and cities from McHenry County that spent precious tax dollars on lobbying our state government.
Carpentersville School District 300
2006-07 $28,347 (Hinshaw & Culbertson)
Elgin Community College
2006-07 $47,500 (Advanced Practical Solutions)
2007-08 $60,000 (Advanced Practical Solutions)
Harper College
2006-07 $84,000 (Advanced Practical Solutions)
2007-08 $126,000 (Advanced Practical Solutions - $60,000; Alfred G. Ronan Ltd - $50,000; Michelle Teresa Olson - $6,000; Zack Stamp Ltd - $10,000)
Huntley
2006-07 $45,000 (Morreale Public Affairs Group)
2007-08 $65,507 (Morreale Public Affairs Group)
Johnsburg
2006-07 N.A. (Advanced Practical Solutions)
2007-08 $35,000 (Advanced Practical Solutions)
I believe that citizens in Boone County should attempt to monitor any government lobbying expenditures by our local government units . With the downturn in our county’s economy it is very conceivable that Boone County will receive large “stimulus” program from the state. Such programs may or may not require lobbying, either way citizens should be informed of the lobbying. And who are these lobbying firms? Here is a partial list from the study which Mr. Skinner provides:
Advanced Practical Solutions
Milan Petrovic, Shqipe "Sheri" Osmani, and Matthew R. Pickering were the exclusive lobbyists; the firm also reported contractual relationships with All-Circo, Government Navigation Group, Roger Marquardt, and two other firms. The firm also reported Dan Shomon, Fidelity Consulting Group, Illinois Governmental Consulting Group, and Roger Marquardt, as clients.
Morreale Public Affairs Group
Kim Morreale was the exclusive lobbyist.
Olson, Michelle Teresa
Michelle Teresa Olson is the exclusive lobbyist. The firm also listed Cullen & Assoc as a client.
Ronan, Alfred G., Ltd.
Alfred G. Ronan and Cheryl Axley were the exclusive lobbyists. The firm listed Miguel Santiago and Thomas J. Walsh as clients
Stamp, Zack LTD
Zack Stamp, Kevin McFadden and Steve W. Kinion were the exclusive lobbyists. The firm also reported contractual relationships with B-P Consultants, Cullen & Assoc., Zack Stamp Consulting, and one other.
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