April 26, 2024
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Higher Education: Lobbyists
The Lobbyists: Confronting Cutbacks
Colleges spend millions on lobbyists to watch out for their individual interests in the Legislature.
Amy Keller | 7/5/2011
Big Presence = Big Money
Florida colleges and universities have a significant lobbying presence at both the federal and state level.
Most colleges and universities — and the associations that represent them — hire well-connected, private lobbying firms to press their cases in Tallahassee and on Capitol Hill. In 2010, contract lobbyists earned more than $3.3 million representing various colleges and universities in front of state lawmakers, according to a Florida Trend analysis of state lobbying compensation records. In their quest for federal dollars, Florida schools spent upward of $3.3 million lobbying members of Congress. Restrictions in state law mean the schools typically pay for lobbyists with funds from their foundations.
| Federal Lobbying (2010) | |
| Institution | Lobby Expenses |
| University of Miami | $587,918 |
| State University System of Florida | 460,000 |
| University of South Florida | 400,000 |
| University of Florida Foundation | 280,000 |
| Florida International University | 348,499 |
| Nova Southeastern University | 360,000 |
| Keiser University | 210,000 |
| Florida Atlantic University | 120,000 |
| University of Central Florida | 120,000 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | 100,000 |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | 85,000 |
| Barry University | 80,000 |
| Florida A&M University | 70,000 |
| Florida State University | 55,000 |
| Source: Center for Responsive Politics | |
| State Lobbying (2010) | |||
| Institution | Lobbying Firm | Legislative | Executive (range) |
| Barry University | Corcoran & Johnston | $20,000 | $2 - $19,998 |
| Holland & Knight | 0 | 30,002 - 69,996 | |
| Bethune-Cookman University | Becker & Poliakoff | 20,000 | 0 |
| Brevard Community College | Spearman Management | 15,000 | 10,000 - 19,999 |
| Brevard Community College Foundation | Spearman Management | 65,000 | 50,000 - 79,997 |
| Dade Medical College | Cruz & Co. | 30,000 | 20,000 - 39,998 |
| Dutko Worldwide | 20,000 | 4 - 39,996 | |
| Edward Waters College | Becker & Poliakoff | 20,000 | 0 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | Pennington Moore Wilkinson Bell | 20,000 | 4 - 39,996 |
| Florida Association of Community Colleges | Governmental Solutions | 10,000 | 2 - 19,998 |
| Southern Strategy Group | 60,000 | 4 - 39,996 | |
| Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools & Colleges | Mortham Governmental Consultants | 60,000 | 40,000 -79,996 |
| Florida Atlantic University Foundation | Southern Strategy Group | 60,000 | 4 - 39,996 |
| Florida International University Foundation | ADF Consulting | 20,000 | 0 |
| Florida Consultants | 60,000 | 0 | |
| Floridian Partners | 40,000 | 4 - 39,996 | |
| Gomez Barker Associates | 35,000 | 0 | |
| Johnson & Blanton | 60,000 | 40,000 - 79,996 | |
| Advocacy Group @ Cardenas Partners | 15,000 | 10,000 - 19,999 | |
| Florida Memorial University | Becker & Poliakoff | 100,000 | 0 |
| Florida Southern College | Florida Strategic Group | 20,000 | 4 - 39,996 |
| Hodges University | J. Keith Arnold & Associates | 20,000 | 4 - 39,996 |
| Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida (ICUF) | Frank N. Tsamoutales | 20,000 | 10,001 - 29,998 |
| Sachs Sax Caplan | 140,000 | 4 - 39,996 | |
| SKB Consulting Group | 20,000 | 4 - 39,996 | |
| Advocacy Group@ Cardenas Partners | 40,000 | 20,002 - 59,996 | |
| Keiser University | Fowler White Boggs | 100,000 | 80,000 - 119,996 |
| Lake Erie College Osteopathic Medicine | T. B. Consultants | 100,000 | 80,000 - 119,996 |
| New College Foundation | Capital City Consulting | 60,000 | 4 - 39,996 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Corcoran & Johnston | 20,000 | 4 - 39,996 |
| Panza Maurer & Maynard | 225,000 | 225,000 | |
| Smith & Ballard | 60,000 | 40,000 - 79,996 | |
| Rubin Group | 20,000 | 4 - 39,996 | |
| University of Central Florida Foundation | GrayRobinson | 70,000 | 50,000 - 89,996 |
| Southern Strategy Group | 30,000 | 4 - 39,996 | |
| University of Florida Foundation | Brewton Plante | 60,000 | 0 |
| Moreton Consulting | 60,000 | 0 | |
| Smith Bryan & Myers | 50,000 | 4 - 39,996 | |
| Southern Strategy Group | 0 | 20,001 - 49,997 | |
| University of Miami | Blosser & Sayfie | 25,000 | 10,002 - 39,997 |
| Larry J. Overton & Associates | 0 | 80,000 - 119,996 | |
| Ronald L. Book | 140,000 | 0 | |
| University of Phoenix | Dutko Worldwide | 60,000 | 40,000 - 79,996 |
| University of South Florida Foundation | Corcoran & Johnston | 100,000 | 4 - 39,996 |
| University of West Florida Foundation | Heffley & Associates | 20,000 | 4 - 39,996 |
