Topic: Lobbying compensation

The two presiding legislative officers are working on a compromise measure to exempt new law enforcement officials and other first responders from going into a defined contribution pension system. They're also intent on auditing lobbyists.

Health care, sugar and gambling interests spent the most with lobbyists during the summer months when most lawmakers spend time away from Tallahassee. The top three earners remain the same with Ballard Partners edging out Ron Book and the Southern Strategy Group.

The James Madison Institute, a Tallahassee-based free-market think tank named in the report, says it is "full of cherry-picked misinformation and misleading statements."

Chairman Joe Abruzzo says it's a top priority of presiding officers and that the audits will give the public an accurate accounting of "who is influencing and being paid to advocate to lawmakers." ... Related Research: Rules relevant to Guidelines for Audits of Lobbying Firm Compensation Reports, Nov. 4, 2013 Joint Legislative Auditing Committee meeting packet, and meeting video from WFSU-TV/The FLORIDA Channel.

A real outsider might upset Clinton in 2016, contends the writer of a new book about politics and lobbying in the nation's capital. He calls Washington, D.C. the wealthiest city in the country where an entrenched status quo has no intention of bringing meaningful change.

Transportation lawyer Brad Burleson is joining one of the top lobbying firms in the state as partner. ... Related Research: Ballard Partners Expands; Brad Burleson Joining Tallahassee Office.

A proposed committee bill would increase sovereign immunity caps on local governments to $3 million for individuals and $4.5 million per incident, but leave the current $300,000 cap intact for the state government. ... Related Research: Meeting materials and video.

Ballard Partners is the new king of Capitol hill as the firm posts a total of $5.4 million from its 90 clients. A total of $121 million was reported in payments for lobbying this past year. ... Related Research: Access lobbyist compensation data for Quarter 3 of 2012, plus an archive of data from 2007-present, and view 2012 Lobbyist Compensation Report Highlights (By Firm and by Principal, based on Median figures).

This week we learned that if the state goes to a 401(k)-style pension plan there will be fewer paying into the old system and more getting payments as time goes on, that Jim Greer pleaded guilty to theft and money laundering, and that election law reform has a chance to pass during the 2013 session of the Legislature.

Probably three super-lobbyists topped $1 million for a generally slow July-September period. ... Related Research: 2012 Q3 Lobbyist Compensation Data: Top Firms by Compensation and Top Principals by Spending [XLS].

The study by Progress Florida, Common Cause and the Center for Media and Democracy says members of the American Legislative Exchange Council gather at meetings to collaborate on bills that are then submitted as proposed legislation. Two current lawmakers named in the report deny membership in the group. ... Related Research: "ALEC in Florida" from Progress Florida, Florida Watch Action, People for the American Way Foundation, Common Cause, and ALEC Exposed.

This week the state's Medicaid program gets a new chief, environmentalists see a bit of hope on the horizon, the PIP issue gets a lot of attention, and lobbyists reveal in general terms how much they're making.

This week the Citizens Property Insurance board meets, former Gov. Reubin Askew speaks, lobbyist compensation reports are due, and that's just Monday.

Scott chief of staff Steve MacNamara profiled, Florida's participation in homeland security program draws ire, juvenile delinquency drops 10 percent, Florida version of DREAM Act filed, banks in Florida get federal stimulus funding, space shuttle program comes to end.