MinnPost photo by Terry Gydesen

Lobbying organizations reported spending close to $11 million dollars in 2010.

Campaign finance reports released this week document massive spending in Minnesota’s 2010 races — especially in the governor’s race where the campaign of Mark Dayton spent $5.3 million and Tom Emmer spent $2.8 million.

Underneath all of the election year spending there was also the steady drumbeat of workaday lobbying to influence the actions of Minnesota’s legislators, commissions, public officials, and county and city governments.

Data obtained from the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board details the efforts of hundreds of organizations to influence many layers of power in the state.

I’ll be drilling into the data here at The Intelligencer, beginning today with an overview of legislative lobbying. All told, lobbying organizations reported spending close to $11 million dollars in 2010.

At nearly $1 million, Minnesota Business Partnership spent more money than any other organization working to influence legislative action, which can include action by committees, subcommittees, resolutions, nominations, appointments, and even gubernatorial response to a bill. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce comes in a close second at $918,000 with Education Minnesota at a distant third at $700,000.

The data becomes a bit more interesting when organization spending is split up by category. All lobbying reports must include a breakdown of spending by category, such as media advertising, telephone and communications costs, staff salaries, even food and beverages.

Media advertising

Support staff salary and administrative costs

Telephone and communications

Postage and distribution

Food and beverage

Source: Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board