As of midaftemoon Friday, roughly 315 had signed up for the 2007 session, despite the new registration charges of $100 per lobbyist plus $100 for each additional client
That includes 255 who registered in time to be included in the first printing of the 2007 directory of lobbyists (which should be available as early as this week), and about 60 who have filed since (and will be included in a supplement that will be printed later in the session).
The 2007 session marks the first time all lobbyists have had to re-register under the new, tougher lobbying requirements passed in the January 2005 special session.
Given the slow pace of the first 10 days of the session — lobbyists don't have to register with the Ethics Commission until they actually start lobbying efforts—the commission seems on pace to have the 400 to 450 registered lobbyists typical of recent sessions.
The list of lobbyists includes a number of ranking members of prior administrations.
That includes former Wise chief of staff Mike Garrison, who lists about a dozen clients, including Charleston Area Medical Center and Mylan Pharmaceuticals; former Manchin Public Energy Authority Director Paul Hardesty, who has seven clients, including Appalachian Power Co., BrickStreet Mutual and International Coal Group; and former Department of Environmental Protection secretary and recent congressional candidate Mike Callaghan, who is representing the Tinney Law Firm. And let's not forget former Wise deputy chief of staff and fundraiser extraordinaire Nikki Barone, who is again lobbying for Charles Town Races.
Also, longtime West Virginia Education Association lobbyist Perry Bryant is lobbying this session for the advocacy group he now heads, West Virginians for Affordable Health Care.
Speaking of lobbying, the ongoing appearances of defeated Delegate Cindy Frich, R-Monongalia, at the Legislature and legislative functions have perplexed many and raised rumors that she has been retained by the state Council of Churches for its efforts to fight legislation to legalize table gaming at the state racetracks.
That's not true, at least not yet, according to council Executive Director Dennis Sparks. He said he has had discussions with Frich but said nothing has been finalized.
(It was bad enough when Sparks momentarily aligned himself with a somewhat unsavory splinter group of limited video lottery operators, who are trying to amend the table games bill so they can operate card games at their neighborhood minicasinos.)
In the words of Matthew Broderick, following the closing credits of "Ferns Bueller's Day Off: "Ifs over. Go home."
Meanwhile, the state Professional Association of Lobbyists (which presumably includes all lobbyists who have to pay $500 or more in registration fees) will host an "Ethics for Lobbyists" seminar by retired West Virginia University law professor Jack Bowman on Wednesday.
Legislative receptions gear up in earnest this week, with a total of seven receptions in three days, including four on Tuesday alone. That includes receptions by the ACT Foundation, West Virginia Public Broadcasting, West Virginia Bankers Association and the state Municipal League.
In fact, the only night this week without a reception is Wednesday, when most legislators will be headed to the Civic Center for the WVU basketball game.
Attorney General Darrell McGraw has been critical of past efforts to sell the rights to future tobacco settlement payments for a lump-sum payment. But Fran Hughes, chief deputy AG, said they are studying Gov. Joe Manchin's tobacco securitization proposal and have not determined whether they will oppose it.
Ron Stoner confirmed that plans for a new, permanent Capitol cafeteria will feature a food-court design, in place of the hot-meal line and sandwich line in the old cafeteria.
He said the design will feature a number of "stations," each with a difference type of fare.
Unlike the traditional shopping-mall concept, with a number of different franchisees operating in the food court, Stoner said a single vendor will operate all the stations.
A retired Greenbrier resort executive, Stoner has a $75-an-hour, $75,000-maximum consulting contract with the Department of Administration to oversee development of food-service operations at the Capitol Complex.
Finally, speaking of food service at the Capitol: Administration Secretary Rob Ferguson has spent so much time welcoming guests to the new, temporary cafeteria in the Cultural Center, he should be named its honorary maitre d'.
A retired Marine lieutenant colonel, Ferguson hasn't been shy about telling anyone who will listen how good he thinks the food is.
My response: "You ate C-rations for 20 years, so anything tastes good to you." To contact staff writer Phil Kabler, e-mail philk@wvga zette.com or call 348-1220.