$1.33 billion spent to influence policy, FPPC says

Of the more than $1.33 billion spent by special interests during the past decade to influence public policy in Sacramento, about three out of every four dollars were spent by an array of groups that included pharmaceutical companies, Indian tribes, petroleum and energy companies, the health care industry, and others.

As a group, spending by public-employee unions –including the California Teachers Association — represented just over a fourth of the total.

In the group of 15 top spenders, the highest spending by a single organization was the 325,000-member CTA, which spent $211.8 million, followed by the California State Council of Service Employees, which spent $107.4 million. Third was the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhaRMA, at $104.9 million.

The figures provided by the Fair Political Practices Commission showed six tribal groups – Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Pala Band of Mission Indians and United Auburn Indian Community – spent $280,068,368 during the period from Jan. 1, 2000 through Dec. 31, 2009.

The complete report from the FPPC can be viewed here.

Energy-related entities, including Chevron Corp, Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas and Electric Co., the Western States Petroleum Association and Aera Energy LLC spent $182.5 million.

The remaining spenders on the top 15 list, apart from the tribes, were PG&E ($69.2 million), Chevron ($66.3 million), AT&T ($59.6 million), Philip Morris USA ($50.8 million), Southern California Edison ($43.4 million), the California Hospital Association ($43.3 million), California Chamber of Commerce ($39 million), Western States Petroleum Association ($35.2 million) and Aera Energy LLC ($34.6 million.

As a group, public employee unions – the CTA, California Correctional Peace Officers Association, California School Employees Association and California State Council of Service Employees – together spent some $383.6 million, or about 28 percent of the total.

Between them, two tobacco companies spent about $80 million – the $50.8 million from Philip Morris and $29.2 million from Reynolds American.