Top Lobbying firms in the state

[Paul E Ester]

Overall, about 400 lobbying firms reported more than $345 million in payments. Ninety-one firms received more than $1 million; 126 firms got less than $100,000.

The three biggest spenders on lobbying were the California State Council of Service Employees, Western States Petroleum Association and California Teachers Association, at more than $8 million each.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20130324/ARTICLES/130329722/1033/news?Title=Powerful-lobbying-firms-have-North-Bay-connections

[SunSeeker]

1. No, the biggest is a Republican lobbying firm that spent $12.8 million.

The article features the Hansen firm, which you for whatever reason skipped mentioning:

"From her office window in downtown Sacramento, Bev Hansen can look across L Street to the neoclassic Capitol building, the seat of government for a state with 38 million residents and the world's eighth-largest economy.

Hansen, a former Republican assemblywoman from Santa Rosa, left her lawmaker's seat 21 years ago, but still values her view of who's coming and going from the building where California's laws are made.
...
Four of the busiest lobbying firms have North Bay connections. Hansen's firm [Lang, Hansen, O'Malley & Miller Governmental Relations] stands atop the heap, with $12.8 million in payments during the 2011-12 legislative session.
...
Hollywood Park Racing Association, Citizens for Fire Safety Institute (representing manufacturers of toxic flame retardants) and Altria Client Services (representing the Philip Morris tobacco company) each paid Lang Hansen $600,000 or more, according to lobbying financial disclosure reports to the state. Wal-Mart and FedEx Corp. each paid the firm about $360,000. What she's truly proud of, Hansen said, is her firm's rating in a 2010 survey of state lawmakers conducted by Capitol Weekly as 'best large lobbying firm.'"