Lobbyists kicked in at least $2.2 million in campaign donations since the 2008 election, according to an analysis released by the New York Public Interest Research Group. NYPIRG reviewed the state's 50 largest lobby firms, cautioning that figures quoted in its report are likely to be very conservative since lobbyists not only donate their own money, but also "bundle" contributions from their clients and others.

NYPIRG created its report by running lobbyists listed with the state Public Integrity Commission against contribution data bases. Andrew Cuomo with $320,540 was the biggest recipient of lobbying dollars, followed by David Paterson, the Democratic State Senate committee, and Thomas P. DiNapoli.

NYPIRG Legislative Director Blair Horner says when NYPIRG looked at the database in the past to see how lobbyists were involved in fundraising years ago, it found they generally were NOT big campaign contributors, but that has now changed. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, New York is one of the nineteen states that place no unique limitations on lobbyists.

NYPIRG is calling on the governor and legislative leaders to approve legislation designed to limit the "pay to play" activities of the state's lobbyists. NYPIRG's analysis found that former elected officials who are now lobbyists donated nearly $143,000 from their political committees that were established for their electoral campaigns. Horner says the public has always viewed lobbyists with great skepticism. The matter now rests in the hands of the Governor and the legislature.