WNY businesses, governments, and private organizations spent $3.6 million on state and local lobbying activities in 2023-2024
This post includes a large table. It is best read on a computer or iPad. Total statewide spending on lobbying activities through May 2024 was $360.6 million, up $29.1 million or 8.8 percent from the previous year. The most recent report on lobbyin…
This post includes a large table. It is best read on a computer or iPad.
Total statewide spending on lobbying activities through May 2024 was $360.6 million, up $29.1 million or 8.8 percent from the previous year.
The most recent report on lobbying was published by the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (CELG) in June. Here are some highlights from CELG's report:
Healthcare remained a major focus area of lobbying activity among the Top Ten Client Spenders, including 1199SEIU Labor Management Initiatives, Inc. Healthcare Education Project; Greater New York Hospital Association; Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund; AARP; Genting NY; StudentsFirst New York Advocacy, Inc.; Siebert Williams Shank & Co.; NYS Trial Lawyers Association; and the Public Employees Federation.
The number of lobbying registrations increased to 6,224 in 2023, up slightly from 6,153 in 2022, representing a 1.2% increase.
The number of clients filing reports decreased, by nearly 5.9%, to 4,744 from 5,040 reported in 2022.
The number of public corporations that registered and filed as lobbyists or filed reports as clients of lobbyists slightly decreased, from 55 in 2022 to 52 in 2023.
The party most reported to be lobbied in 2023 continued to be the Executive Chamber/Office of the Governor.
This blog has reviewed the list of Western New York firms and organizations that employed lobbyists beginning with activities in 2014 and continuing every year since then. You can look at reports from previous years by using the Search tool at the top of the Politics and Other Stuff website.
This post drills down to the businesses, governments, and organizations based in Western New York employing lobbyists or doing their own lobbying work in 2023-2024. Total spending by identifiable local firms, governments, and organizations last year was approximately $3.6 million, essentially the same as the previous year. As has been the case in recent years, the local lobbying business was led by the firm of Masiello, Martucci and Associates, which had $1,275,000 in identifiable local billings last year; that was down about $66,000 from the previous year. O'Donnell & Associates was again second at $670,344; down by approximately $54,000 from last year. Rounding out the local top five were E3 Communications ($244,500); Hinman Straub ($220,564); and Lippes Mathias ($164,088).
A total of twelve local governments and government agencies spent $600,252 in lobbying activity in 2023-2024.
Lobbyist firms with local clients are frequently retained by businesses and organizations that do not have a Western New York base. Out of Western New York lobbying clients can add significant revenues to a firm's income.
The CELG reports on "Filings Ranked by Parties Lobbied." The top ten "Parties Lobbied" list includes just three of the 213 state legislators. The legislator with the most contacts was once again Senator (now Congressman) Tim Kennedy of Buffalo, who was ranked ninth. Senator Kennedy was the Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. A total of 855 contact filings were reported concerning Kennedy. Governor Kathy Hochul had 774 contacts.
Certain firms and organizations represent themselves in the lobbying work and are noted without an identified lobbyist in the following list.
Here is the 2023-2024 list of local lobbying participants:
Business/Govt./Organization
Lobbyist
$ Amount
Albright Knox Gallery
Masiello Martucci
7,500
Albright Knox Gallery
O'Donnell & Associates
25,252
ArtPark
Masiello Martucci
42,000
Bassett Healthcare Network
Lippes Mathias
84,048
Bflo. & Erie Co. Botanical Gardens
Masiello Martucci
9,000
Buffalo & Pittsburgh RR
Harter Secrest Emery
17,482
Buffalo Cannabis Co.
Upstate Strategic Advisors
3,000
BryLin Hospital
Masiello Martucci 55,000
Buffalo Computer Graphics
Brown & Weinraub
6,772
Buffalo Zoo
O'Donnell & Associates
54,252
Center for Elder Law & Justice
Masiello Martucci
24,000
City of Buffalo
Masiello Martucci
60,000
Correctional Officers & PBA
Lippes Mathias
80,004
County of Niagara
Masiello Martucci
60,000
Creative Structure Serv.
Masiello Martucci
18,000
Delaware North Companies
O'Donnell & Associates
151,752
D'Youville University
Masiello Martucci
90,000
ECMC Corp.
Masiello Martucci
48,000
Erie County Water Auth.
Masiello Martucci
60,000
Erie County
Masiello Martucci
15,000
Health Care Assn. of WNY
6,078
Highmark of W. & NE NY
Hinman Straub
98,434
Jack Hunt Gold & Silver
Masiello Martucci
6,000
Independent Health Association
55,000
John W. Danforth Co.
Masiello Martucci
40,500
Kaleida Health
Masiello Martucci
108,000
Kleinhans Music Hall
E3 Communications
48,000
Maid of the Mist
Masiello Martucci
60,000
Medaille University
E3 Communications
22,500
Modern Corp.
Masiello Martucci
54,000
Montante Companies
E3 Communications
48,000
National Fuel Gas
E3 Communications
60,000
National Fuel Gas
Statewide Public Affairs
51,290
National Fuel Gas
436,995
National Grid
9,999
New Era Cap Co.
O'Donnell & Associates
60,252
NFTA
Masiello Martucci
78,000
Nia.Fron. Auto Dealers Assn.
Masiello Martucci
18,000
Niagara Falls Bridge Commission
O'Donnell & Associates
81,252
Niagara Falls Water Board
Upstate Strategic Advisors
36,000
Niagara University
O'Donnell & Associates
52,752
Noco
E3 Communications
36,000
OLV Human Services
Masiello Martucci
36,000
Richardson Center Corp.
Upstate Strategic Advisors
22,500
Phillips Lytle
Masiello Martucci
38,000
PVS Chemical Solutions
Masiello Martucci
60,000
Ralph C. Wilson Foundation
O'Donnell & Associates
66,252
Rich Baseball Operations
Masiello Martucci
15,000
Read to Succeed Buffalo
Masiello Martucci
10,500
Rosina Food Products
Masiello Martucci
36,000
Roswell Park C.I.
Greenberg Traurig
96,000
Say Yes Buffalo
Masiello Martucci
42,000
Seneca Nation
Hinman Straub
122,130
Seneca Nation
Masiello Martucci
80,000
Shea's O'Connell Guild
Masiello Martucci
30,000
Sinatra & Co.
Masiello Martucci
25,500
South Buffalo RR
Harter Secrest
17,482
St. Bonaventure University
406
Town of Amherst
Masiello & Martucci
60,000
Town of Cheektowaga Town of Tonawanda
O'Donnell & Associates O'Donnell & Associates
36,000 36,000
University at Buffalo
204,705
University at Buffalo
O'Donnell & Associates
46,326
Western Regional OTBC
Upstate Strategic Advisors
42,000
Westminster Community Charter
O'Donnell & Associates
60,252
WNY Library Resources Council
Masiello & Martucci
9,000
William Schutt
Masiello Martucci
11,500
WNY Energy
Park Strategies
37,731
WNY Women's Foundation
1,048
West Falls Center for Arts Masiello Martucci 9,000
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