Lobbying firms pulled in more than $35 million during the first three months of the year for their work in the Legislature --- with five firms each earning at least $1 million, according to newly filed reports.
The fees came as lawmakers held an earlier-than-usual session that started in January and ended March 11. Firms faced a Sunday night deadline for filing reports that gave at least broad compensation totals for the first quarter, though in most cases the reports do not include exact amounts.
A preliminary state report posted online Monday estimated legislative lobbying fees at $35.5 million. While that number is subject to change, it is an increase from an estimated $35.1 million during the same three-month period in 2015.
Five firms --- Ballard Partners; Capital City Consulting, LLC; Greenberg Traurig PA; Ronald L. Book PA; and Southern Strategy Group --- each reported earning at least $1 million from their dozens of clients.
At least nine more firms --- Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney PC; Corcoran & Johnston; Floridian Partners LLC; GrayRobinson PA; Johnson & Blanton; Metz Husband & Daughton PA; Smith Bryan & Myers Inc.; The Advocacy Group at Cardenas Partners LLC; and The Rubin Group --- each earned between $500,000 and $999,999, the online reports show.
Another 18 firms earned between $250,000 and $499,999 during the quarter, while at least 39 firms earned between $100,000 and $249,999. Dozens of firms were paid less than $100,000.
With the exception of fees of $50,000 or more from individual clients, firms report their incomes in ranges. Examples of those ranges are $1 to $9,999; $10,000 to $19,999; and $20,000 to $29,999. Estimates are calculated by using the numbers at the mid-point of each range.
But some of the large fee amounts track issues from this year's legislative session, which started nearly two months earlier than annual sessions typically begin.
For instance, the Ronald L. Book firm reported receiving $100,000 to represent the Florida High School Athletic Association, which was the subject of legislation dealing with the oversight of high-school sports. Similarly, Southern Strategy Group reported receiving $60,000 from Costa Farms LLC, a major nursery that has been selected to take part in the state's new medical-marijuana industry.
In some cases, the large fees reflect industries, such as insurers and hospitals, that have broad interests in what happens in the Legislature.
Floridian Partners, for example, reported receiving $70,000 from FCCI Insurance Group, and Southern Strategy Group also reported receiving $53,000 from the insurer. Similarly, The Rubin Group reported getting paid $56,000 by the HCA health-care company, while another firm, Rutledge Ecenia also was paid $51,000 by HCA, the reports show.
