We’re a big state with big challenges. Each morning we explain the top issues and how Californians are trying to solve them.One weekly email, all the Golden State newsGet the news that matters to all Californians. Start every week informed.With three months left to go, more than $358 million has been spent this year on lobbying California’s Legislature, agencies, and Public Utilities Commission
Chevron Corp. and the Western States Petroleum Association, a trade organization for the oil industry, spent the most on lobbying activities so far this year at nearly $10 million and $5.3 million, respectively. That’s not unusual: For the past four legislative sessions, they both were among the top three highest spending lobbying organizations in the state.
McDonald’s, the fourth highest spender on lobbying activity this year, also reported a sharp increase from previous years. It spent nearly $5 million so far with a focus on, a bill that was amended in a deal with labor unions to raise the minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 an hour next April and create a council to set labor standards. Of the roughly $5 million the fast food company spent on lobbying the state this year,. This year’s spending was a little more than 40% of the $9.
Since January, 33 companies have spent more than $2 million to lobby the commission that's been in the news recently for allowing – andGeneral lobbying expenses have to be reported to the Secretary of State, but the filing requirements don’t reveal how much money was used to lobby officials on each bill.