Several organizations, including the Milwaukee Brewers, the Koch Network, Kwik Trip, and Google, spent significant amounts of money lobbying officials in Wisconsin in 2024. The top spender was Wisconsin Infrastructure Investment Now, Inc., representing various industries, with over $900,000 in lobbying expenses. Other top spenders included trade groups like the Wisconsin Hospital Association, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, and Wisconsin Realtors Association. These organizations aimed to influence legislation and government actions in their favor.
The state’s strict lobbying rules prohibit lobbyists from giving gifts of monetary value to politicians. All lobbying activities must be reported, including bills supported or opposed, hours spent, and dollars invested in lobbying. The Milwaukee Brewers, for example, spent close to $370 million in state funds for stadium updates in exchange for staying in Milwaukee until at least 2050. The team spent nearly $800,000 on lobbying in 2023 for this purpose.
Despite the heavy spending by various groups, the state Legislature was relatively quiet in the second half of 2024 due to ongoing political campaigns. The Koch Network’s conservative advocacy group, Americans for Prosperity, along with Kwik Trip, Google, and Marquette University, were among the top spenders on lobbying efforts in Wisconsin last year. The Coalition for Community Solar Access and Madison Gas & Electric also contributed significant amounts to lobbying activities. The Badger Project, a nonpartisan journalism nonprofit, highlighted the investment required to produce in-depth investigative journalism.
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