The Georgia Capitol.
And there were only a few instances this year when spending on members of the Floyd County delegation — state Sen. Barry Loudermilk, R-Cassville, and state House Reps. Barbara Massey Reece, D-Menlo; Rick Crawford, D-Cedartown; Christian Coomer, R-Cartersville; and Katie Dempsey, R-Rome — topped the proposed cap of $100 a day per lobbyist.
Voters in the Democrat and Republican primaries on July 31 will be asked in a non-binding poll if they support the cap.
The next round of lobbyist reports, for the month of June, are due to the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission (formerly the state Ethics Commission) on July 5.
A review of 2012 spending through May on local delegates and the bills they sponsored during the past two-year legislative session turned up the following trends:
Although most of his meetings were with utility lobbyists and the Georgia Recyclers Association, Loudermilk focused his lawmaking on issues such as immigration and citizenship, gun rights, state spending and anti-abortion measures.
He sponsored or co-sponsored 51 bills this term, including one piece of local legislation, and 10 of those bills passed into law.
The bills pushed by the Cartersville attorney primarily reflect his stated interests in constitutional law, taxes and military veterans.
Two of the 16 bills were local legislation. Six of the measures were passed.
He co-sponsored the Protecting Public School Funds Act of 2011, which did not get a House vote. Of his nine other bills, six were local legislation, and six passed.
Of the 37 interactions reported, 14 were with public relations firms that represent a number of unspecified clients. Another eight meetings were with health-related industries — a major economic sector in Floyd County.
The majority of her sponsored legislation dealt with health care and child protection. Of her 14 bills, one was local legislation, and three passed.
While none of the lobbyists reported spending more than $100 on Dempsey in one day, the cost of a Jan. 11 dinner co-hosted by five groups totaled $133.75. A $190 dinner on Feb. 23 that included her husband was split by two lobbyists.
The retired teacher focused mainly on education and local needs. Of the 12 bills she sponsored or co-sponsored, six were local legislation, and five were signed into law.
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