Reports Offer Peek at State Capitol Lobbying in 2015 Session

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota lawmakers dished out billions of dollars in a new budget assembled in a just-concluded legislative session. Groups spent millions lobbying for a slice or to alter policy sometimes closely tied to the state money.

Lobbying disclosure reports published Tuesday offer an early glimpse of where the most expensive battles were: Education, transportation and business regulations topped the list.

The reports covering January through May aren't the last word because the Legislature's work spilled into June. Also, groups aren't required to provide details on compensation to their lobbying teams until year's end, which will substantially drive the total up.

The teachers union, Education Minnesota, spent $565,000 on its lobbying, largely due to a TV ad effort. Three statewide business groups combined to spend almost $540,000 by the mid-year reporting deadline.