Samantha Marcus reports for NJ.com:
Insurers, hospitals, telecommunications and energy companies, unions and industry associations spend big dollars each year to sway New Jersey residents and lawmakers.
The biggest among these — the top 25 — spent more than $74 million on campaigns and lobbying in 2017, according to a new Election Law Enforcement Commission report released Wednesday.
These top spenders accounted for 43 percent of all special interest spending in 2017, which came to $170.4 million, according to the report.
“This analysis seeks to measure the full cloud of the pressure groups by totaling their direct contributions and independent spending, which influence elections, and lobbying, which influences policy,” the report said.
The analysis reviewed spending in 2017, when the governor’s office and all 120 legislative seats were on the ballot.
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Last year was also marked by some contentious debates over energy subsidies for PSEG’s nuclear operations and then-Gov. Chris Christie’s fight with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield over its reserves, which he wanted to tap for addiction treatment.
That dramatic fight between Christie and the health insurer contributed to a dramatic shutdown of state government over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
The New Jersey Education Association, the largest public union in the Garden State, also spent record sums last fall to unseat Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester. A super PAC, New Jerseyans for a Better Tomorrow, spent millions in return backing Sweeney, who was re-elected.
Click to see 25 biggest spenders among NJ’s special interests.
