One variant is where state-level government agencies use public funds to retain lobbyists to lobby the state or federal legislature.
[9][10][11] Taxpayer-funded lobbying by local political subdivisions can take two main forms: direct and association.
[20] In 2021 the City of San Diego allotted $840,000 for 4 years worth of lobbying on state and federal issues.
[25] In the March 2020 primary election, 94% of Republican voters approved of a non-binding proposition to ban taxpayer-funded lobbying.
[38] In 2020, the State-regulated near-monopoly utility ComEd was caught up in a federal investigation regarding the use of taxpayer funds to pay for no-show lobbying jobs for the allies of the previously all-power ex-State House Speaker Michael Madigan.
[39][40] Madigan's son-in-law was hired as the chief lobbyist by the Chicago metro's Regional Transportation Authority.
[42][43] A large number of United Kingdom local governments have spent money lobbying Brussels for intervention and funding.