Highest-paid lobbyists  Currently, 688 lobbyists are registered with the ethics commission. The top lobbyists are by far the highest-paid people who work in the Capitol. For context, consider that Gov. Andy Beshear’s salary is $179,443. Here are the 25 people who were paid the most to lobby the General Assembly in 2024, according to the ethics commission website. Each of these lobbyists represents many different clients. Listed with each name is the lobbying firm the lobbyist works for, the number of clients represented by the lobbyist, and the total amount in fees paid to the lobbyist by all of those clients. Below each name are five of that lobbyist’s largest clients.  Patrick M. Jennings, Commonwealth Alliances, 79 clients, $975,237 Clients include: AT&T, The Jockey Club, Ky Hospital Assn., Liberty Initiative Fund, United Parcel Service John T. McCarthy III, McCarthy Strategic Solutions, 108 clients, $795,552 Clients include: Churchill Downs, Altria Client Services, National Mentor Holdings, Netsmart, Ky Optometric Assn. Stephen S. Huffman, HCM Government Relations, 27 clients, $773,800 Clients include: The Red Mile, Revolutionary Racing, Keeneland, IGT, American Municipal Power Robert A. Babbage, Babbage Co-Founder, 42 clients, $731,940 Clients include: Angel’s Envy, Cash Express, PrizePicks, Tyler Kentucky, Underdog Fantasy Sean Cutter, MMLK Government Solutions, 62 clients, $711,173 Clients include: CoreCivic, Humana, RAI Services, Google LLC, Merck Sharp & Dohme Jason Bentley, MMLK Government Solutions, 58 clients, $653,890 Clients include: RAI Services Company, Ky Distillers Assn., Ascend Elements, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, LG&E and KU Energy Ronald Pryor, Capitol Solutions, 9 clients, $646,186 Clients include: LifePoint Health, HCA Healthcare, Ky Hospital Assn., Murray State University, Tyson Foods Kelley Abell, The Rotunda Group, 26 clients, $630,374 Clients include: McKesson, Motion Picture Assn., Dish Network, BrightSpring Health, Ky Assn. of Adult Day Centers Katherine W. Hall, Commonwealth Alliances, 79 clients, $624,593 Ky Assn of Health Care Facilities, Republic Services, Scholastic Inc., Gainwell Technologies, Ky Veterinary Medical Assn. Chris Nolan, MMLK Government Solutions, 62 clients, $623,053 Kentucky Distillers‘ Assn., Nucor Corp., GoodRX, Humana, Tri-Arrows Aluminum, National Assn. of Vision Care Plans James Higdon, MMLK Government Solutions, 62 clients, $615,255 RAI Services, Unite US, Centegix, Humana, Autonomous Vehicle Industry Assn. Laura E. Owens, JYB3 Group, 35 clients,  $502,000 Clients include: Powerhouse Gaming, Baptist Health, Cumberland River Behavioral Health, Cooper Surgical, Uber Technologies Amy Wickliffe, McCarthy Strategic Solutions, 95 clients,  $501,358 Clients include: Pfizer, Ky Realtors, Churchill Downs, Al J. Schneider Company, Ky Dental Assn. Jason P. Underwood, Capitol Strategies, 6 clients, $500,600 Client include: Enervenue, United Healthcare Services Inc., Heaven Hill Distilleries, American Wagering, Airbnb Mike Biagi, The Rotunda Group, 21 clients, $461,541 Clients include: Kentucky Downs, Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Kentucky Credit Union League, Chewy Inc., McKesson Stephanie L. Stumbo, Commonwealth Advocate, 10 clients, $400,800 Clients include: NextEra Energy, Kentucky Petroleum Marketers, Pikeville Medical Center, Grover Gaming, Kentucky Guild of Brewers. Trey Grayson, FBT, 26 clients, $384,358 Clients include: Kentucky County Clerks’ Assn., Risepoint LLC, Kentucky Retail Federation, Secure Elections Project, Wellpath John P. Cooper, Capital Link, 22 clients, $383,687 Clients include: Toyota Motor North America, Kentucky Bankers Assn., Kentucky Medical Assn., Amazon.com Services, Bank of America Marc Wilson, Top Shelf Lobby, 36 clients, $364,632 Clients include: Sports Betting Alliance, Community Choice Financial, Cincinnati Bell, Mountain Comprehensive Care, Kentucky Beer Wholesalers Assn. Steve Robertson, FBT, 26 clients, $345,178 Clients include: Lancaster Colony Corp., Waterford.org, Pharmaceutical Research and Manuf. Of America, City of Ashland, Yes Every Kid Inc. Rebecca Hartsough, Babbage Co-founder, 37 clients, $318,500 Clients include: FC Cincinnati, Kentucky Health Departments Assn., Novo Nordisk, Grant Ready Kentucky, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport Timothy R. Corrigan, The Rotunda Group, 22 clients, $304,372 Clients include: Dow Chemical, American Assn. for Marriage & Family Therapy, Suntory Global Spirits, Waterfront Botanical Garden, Outfront Media Collin Johnson, Commonwealth Alliances, 81 clients, $301,680 Clients include: Kentucky Hospital Assn., Western Kentucky University, Kentucky Association of Counties, American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, AT&T Richie Sanders, Capital Link, 15 clients, $294,000 Clients include: Houchens Industries, Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, Friends of LifeWorks, Allen County-Scottsville Industrial Development Authority, Turning Point Brands Julia Crigler, Commonwealth Alliances, 73 clients, $292,767 Clients include: Kentucky Cable Telecommunications Assn., Coinbase Inc., Accelerate Learning Inc., Cicero Action, Clean Slate Initiative The post Spending to lobby Kentucky lawmakers hits a new high appeared first on The Lexington Times.