In accordance with these shifting interests, there were winners and losers among the state's top lobbying firms. One big winner was O'Neill & Associates, which topped $2 million in fees, easily leading all its competitors. Their biggest-spending client was a California investment firm, Levine Leichtman, which paid more than $200,000 to lobby the treasurer's office for a piece of the state's investment business. (Seemingly all for naught: a spokesperson for Treasurer Timothy Cahill says it has placed no investments with Levine Leichtman.)
Another big winner of 2009 was Travaglini, Eisenberg and Kiley — thanks to the end of former Senate president Robert Travaglini's "grace period," after which he could, and did, officially begin lobbying state government, to the tune of more than a half-million in fees.
Related:
Alternatives abound, Instead of cuts: guts, Ready to rumble, More 
- Alternatives abound
The 2009 tax increases around the country.
- Instead of cuts: guts
Let’s assume, reader, that you’re concerned about economic and social justice. For those in real need — people who are poor, sick, old, mentally ill, addicted, disabled — you want decent care. You’re concerned, too, about proper funding of schools, community colleges, and university campuses.
- Ready to rumble
Last summer, the upcoming race that got most Bay State politicos salivating was the run for governor.
- Mean everything to nothing
My favorite movie-advertising phrase is "based on a true story." Translated into English, it means: "more or less, a big fat lie."
- The Cultural Caucus's big gamble
The recently formed Cultural Caucus, a loose, formal coalition comprising a dozen arts-friendly state legislators, appears poised to christen its political life by inserting itself into what could be the most intense statewide political battle of the spring legislative session: the move to allow casino gambling in Massachusetts.
- Fed up and low down
Just kidding. Of course they’ll lose.
- Chaos Theory
In less than two weeks, when Massachusetts voters elect Martha Coakley to the US Senate — let's not pretend that Republican state senator Scott Brown has any chance of pulling off the monumental upset — they will trigger a massive domino effect that has the state's political class buzzing with anticipation.
- The X factor
Martha Coakley should be plenty thankful for the holiday weekend. The polls suggest that, if nothing significant changes between now and the December 8 primary, she should handily claim the Democratic nomination for US Senate.
- Your words are not your own
Plagiarism is a serious charge.
- Does Scott Brown’s victory mean doom for RI Democrats?
Republican Scott Brown's stunning victory this week in the race for the late Ted Kennedy's Senate seat in Massachusetts has created something approaching panic in the ranks of Congressional Democrats.
- Can the Netroots triumph in Rhode island?
Stories of State Representative David Segal’s nascent, underdog run for Congress invariably make a nod to the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. And rightly so.
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Talking Politics
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, Deval Patrick, Massachusetts Teachers Association, Political Lobbyists, Massachusetts politics, State House, Governor Deval patrick, Nation, lobbyists, state government, Massachusetts, Less
