Changes

"Vested interests are working harder than ever to achieve their goals in state capitols and state agencies across the country," the [[Center for Public Integrity ]] reported in 2005. The organization's review of 2004 lobbying activities found that nearly $953 million was spent "attempting to influence state legislators and executive branch officials" in the 42 states that track such spending. Twenty-five states saw an increase in lobbying expenditures. State-level lobbying has grown to the point where there are now, on average, "five lobbyists and almost $130,000 in expenditures per state legislator." Several states did boost their oversight of lobbying last yearin 2004, by strengthening registration and disclosure requirements, establishing a "cooling-off period" for former lawmakers planning to become lobbyists, or restricting lobbyists' gifts to public officials. [http://www.publicintegrity.org/hiredguns/report.aspx?aid=728]