Interest groups fork over $8.8 million on lobbying

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Thursday, Sept. 8, 2005 | 9:41 a.m.

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Tobacco, gambling and other interest groups spent more than $8.88 million in Iowa in fiscal 2005 to lobby government executives and agencies, including boards and commissions.

Gambling interests alone spent more than $949,000, according to a report released Tuesday by the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.

The report, which covers the year ended June 30, is the first of its kind because of new disclosure requirements, said Charlie Smithson, the board's executive director.

State Rep. Polly Bukta, D-Clinton, who backed the new requirements, said she had no idea how much was being spent to influence state policy-makers.

"I think we definitely need this," she said. "We need to keep on top of exactly who's spending what and to whom it is going."

Diane Hamilton, chairwoman of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, said she expected that a lot of money would be spent by gambling groups in a year when the commission was expected to expand the number of casinos.