More than $364,000 was spent by 109 registered lobbyists during a three-month period coinciding with the 60-day legislative session earlier this year. Registered lobbyists in West Virginia were required to submit activity reports by May 15. (Photo by Steven Allen Adams)

CHARLESTON — Lobbyists for some of West Virginia’s largest constituencies — seniors, natural gas producers and coal mining interests — were the largest spenders during the 2023 regular session of the West Virginia Legislature.

Registered lobbyists in West Virginia were required to submit activity reports by May 15 covering activities between Jan. 1 and April 30 to the West Virginia Ethics Commission.

According to the first quarter lobbyist activity report published by the commission on May 30, 109 registered lobbyists spent a total of $364,586 between January and April coinciding with the 60-day legislative session held between Jan. 11 and March 11.

The top 10 biggest spenders during the quarter represent major constituency groups and industry sectors in West Virginia, including seniors, fossil fuels, labor, healthcare, alcohol/tobacco and gambling, among others.

The top spender during the session was AARP West Virginia, that represents more than 40% of state residents 50 and older. AARP is a non-partisan organization that does not endorse candidates or give political donations, but the organization does have a robust public policy and legislative agenda each year.

The top 10 biggest spenders during the quarter represent major constituency groups and industry sectors in West Virginia, including seniors, fossil fuels, labor, healthcare, alcohol/tobacco and gambling, among others. (Photo courtesy of WV Legislative Photography)

According to the Ethics Commission, Angela Vance, AARP associate state director, spent $60,692 during the 2023 session. Most of that amount, $33,981, was spent on advertising, $780 was spent on meals and beverages for lawmakers and staff and $2,869 was spent on gifts of Holl’s Chocolates for the entire Legislature and staff.

Another $23,072 was spent on group expenditures, defined as any expenditure on dinners, parties or other functions when all members of the Legislature, the House of Delegates and Senate, standing or select committees or joint committees are invited. The AARP-WV hosts an annual open-house lunch at the beginning of the legislative session open to lawmakers, staff and others inside the Capitol.

AARP also sponsored a boxed lunch for lawmakers, an evening reception, a breakfast for staff of the House and Senate clerk’s offices and co-sponsored other events during the session.

Several bills sponsored by AARP passed during the session, including Senate Bill 677, reducing the co-pay on insulin and diabetes testing equipment, and SB 237, providing a one-time $1,500 bonus to state retirees over the age of 70 if they meet certain qualifications.

The next two largest spenders were West Virginia Coal Association President Chris Hamilton ($15,880) and Paul Hardesty ($14,494), a lobbyist for several coal interests and also the president of the West Virginia Board of Education.

All of Hamilton’s spending was on group expenditures, including sponsoring the Republican Legislative Council, several Friends of Coal receptions and dinners at the Beni Kedem Shriners Temple in Charleston and several luncheons for the legislative Coal Caucus.

A number of pro-coal bills passed this past session, including House Bill 3482 requiring the Department of Economic Development to find sites suitable for coal-fired electricity production; SB 609 requiring coal- and natural gas-fired power plants to receive approval from the state Public Energy Authority before being retired; and HB 3303 revamping the Coalfield Community Development Office.

Most of Hardesty’s spending ($13,700) was on campaign contributions. Some of Hardesty’s fossil fuel clients include Blackhawk Mining LLC, Coronado Coal, Equitrans Midstream Corp. and Par Mar Oil Co. Hardesty also represents solar energy company Savion Energy, Altice USA, Altria Client Services LLC, Philip Morris USA Inc., John Middleton Co., U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co., Helix Innovations LLC, Centene Corp., DoorDash IncImage Associates LLC and Sports Betting Alliance.

The fourth largest spender was the AFL-CIO with $14,106. Andy Walters, the secretary-treasurer for the state’s largest labor union, spent all of their money on meals and beverages, including labor caucus lunches between lawmakers and multiple AFL-CIO affiliated union representatives and one legislative reception.

The fifth largest spender was lobbyist Michael Haid with $13,221, with $6,300 spent on campaign contributions and $5,152 spent on meals and beverages for lawmakers on behalf of the Home Builders Association of West Virginia, the West Virginia Amusement and Limited Video Lottery Association and the Land and Mineral Owners Association of West Virginia representing oil and natural gas property owners.

Haid also represents the American Council of Engineering Companies, the Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority/West Virginia Public Transit Association. and the Society of Professional Engineers.

The Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia (GO-WV) was the sixth largest lobbying spender. GO-WV Executive Director Charlie Burd spent $12,488. Most of Burd’s expenditure ($12,238) was on group expenditures, including GO-WV’s legislative reception and luncheons for lawmakers and their staff.

Lobbyist Phil Real was the seventh largest spender with a total of $11,085. Of that, $2,800 was for campaign contributions and $7,982 was for meals and beverages on behalf of the Beer Wholesalers Association of West Virginia, including a legislative reception and dinners with legislative leaders and key staff. Reale, a lobbyist for Humana, also had dinner with lawmakers and staff to discuss prescription drug issues.

Reale also lobbies for the Alzheimer’s Association, Amazon.com Services LLC, Charles Town HBPA Inc., GAL Land Co., GO-WV, LAMAR Advertising Co., Next Gen Personal Finance, PhRMA, the Speech Language Hearing Association Inc., Thoroughbred Breeders Association/WV, U.S. Fireworks Safety Commission Inc. C/O MultiState Associates Inc., Unite USA Inc., Visa USA Inc. and WV Interactive LLC.

Ranked eighth for spending was lobbyist Tom Susman with TSG, spending $10,950 during the first quarter. Much of Susman’s lobbying was on behalf of West Virginia Health Right and on behalf of TSG as a whole. Other clients include Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Apple Inc., Beckley Water Co., Gainwell Holding Corp., Health Information Network, Hospice Council Inc./WV, IncidentClear LLC, Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority, Osteopathic Medical Association/WV, Roane General Hospital, Rural Health Association/WV and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Lobbyist Conrad Lucas, a former chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party, came in ninth with $9,940 in lobbying expenditures, with $9,800 spent on campaign contributions. Lucas represents Capitol Resources LLC, Christian Healthcare Ministries, Frontier Communications Corp. Companies, Golden Horseshoe Strategies LLC, GREY2K USA Worldwide, Juul Labs Inc., Learning.com, Lexia Learning, Plasma Games, Study Edge, Texas Public Policy Foundation, The College Board, Walgreens, West Virginia Labs, Wetzel County Assessor’s Office and Wonderschool.

Coming in 10th, lobbyist Daniel Hall spent $9,434 during the session, with $6,850 of that spent on campaign contributions, $1,888 spent on group expenditures and $695 spent on food and beverage.

Hall represents the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries Inc., Berkeley County Council, Eye Physicians & Surgeons/WV Academy, FedEx Corp., Gaming and Racing Association/WV, i3 Verticals LLC, Independent Insurance Agents of WV, Oil Marketers & Grocers Association (OMEGA), Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, Secure Solar Futures, SWaN Hill Top House Hotel LLC, GO-WV Inc., Trinity Education Group Inc., Trucking Association/WV, Wholesalers Association/WV, WV Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, WV Recyclers Association Inc. and WV Smoke Free Association.

Steven Allen Adams can be reached at sadams@newsandsentinel.com.