SHARE:
Higher Education: Lobbyists
The Lobbyists: Confronting Cutbacks
Colleges spend millions on lobbyists to watch out for their individual interests in the Legislature.
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 |