Report shows lobbying down in Cook County

Cook County Clerk David Orr’s semiannual lobbying report shows fewer contacts with elected officials and high-ranking employees.

The report released Thursday indicates 211 active lobbyists in the county made 540 contacts with county officials during the first six months of 2012, the lowest amount during a six-month time frame since records started being tracked in 2010. The six-month period with the most contacts came between July and December 2007 with 700.

The lobbyists combined to make nearly $1.2 million from work in Cook County during the past six months, the report shows.

“From activity reported, we know county officials were lobbied about unincorporated areas, bond restructuring, reducing the jail population and more,” Orr said in a news release. “This information sheds some light on who is being paid to influence county decision-makers.”

Lobbyists are required to file data twice a year. Lobbyist information can be found at Orr’s website.