The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport ranked second among registered companies that lobby the Kentucky legislature for money spent on receptions, meals and events for legislators and legislative staff during the first four months of 2023, according to the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission.
CVG spent $8,210 on meals and events for legislators, second only to the KY State Police Professional Association, which spent $10,123.
The ethics commission released its first quarter numbers this week, showing a record number was spent on lobbying during the 30-day legislative session.
“For the first four months of 2023, lobbying interests set a new spending record of $11,417,376, surpassing 2022’s record of $11.131 million for the same time period,” the release from KLEC reads. “This is significant as it was also for a “short session” year. Advertising spending on legislation of $1,055,098 helped clinch this milestone.”
Further, 847 lobbying businesses and organizations were registered to lobby in Kentucky. Those companies spent $11.137 million, and 679 lobbyists received $9.5 million in compensation.
The top two overall spenders are KY Merchants and Amusement Coalition, Inc., which reported spending $483,324. The second highest spender is Kentuckians Against Illegal Gambling, which spent $348,763 over the year’s first four months.
The Commission also recorded the top 10 most expensive events from January through April to which legislators were invited.
The Northern KY Chamber Day event came in sixth by spending $5,210. The entire Northern Kentucky Caucus was invited, and it was paid for by Amazon, Cincinnati Bell, CCG, Delta Airlines, and St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
The annual Chamber Day Dinner, hosted by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, came in first and cost $18,379.