Who is the top lobbyist in Maryland?
By Len Lazarick
For MarylandReporter.com
For the fourth year in a row, Tim Perry and his lobbying firm remain the highest paid lobbyists in Annapolis, according to annual reports from the State Ethics Commission.
Perry earned almost $2.4 million and the partners at Perry White Ross & Jacobson took in twice that amount, $4.8 million.
Based on calculations by MarylandReporter.com, companies, trade groups and organizations spent $44 million on 153 lobbyists — counting only those making $50,000 or more as reported to the state, a few more than last year. (See last year’s story.)
As has become routine, the most money for lobbying — $26 million — went to just a dozen firms and about 30 mostly white, male lobbyists with long histories at the State House.
The rare exception is Lisa Harris Jones of Harris Jones & Malone, the only woman and the only African American among the eight lobbyists who earned over $1 million in the 12 months from Nov. 1, 2017 to Oct. 31, 2018, the time period for filings with the State Ethics Commission. The commission apparently miscalculated the overall earnings of the Harris Jones firm, since the commission shows its four registered lobbyists earning more than $1.9 million.
A few firms like Perry’s made more than in the previous year, including solo practitioners Gerry Evans and Bruce Bereano — but most made slightly less. G.S. Proctor & Associates and Gordon Feinblatt didn’t make the million-dollar cutoff this year.
New to the top firms making over $1 million this year is Cornerstone Government Affairs with several former legislators on staff, including ex-senator P.J. Hogan.
The figures do not just represent personal compensation, but all the billings made to support their offices and staff.
The commission lists do not include earnings for scores of six-figure lobbyists who work directly for state and local governments and universities. They do not have to file earnings reports with the State Ethics Commission.
Here is the list of lobbying firms who were paid more than $1 million in the year ending Oct. 31.
Perry, White, Ross & Jacobson ……..$4,755,280
Rifkin Weiner Livingston LLC ……..$3,661,815
Manis Canning & Associates ………$2,603,350
Alexander & Cleaver, P.A………….$2,427,822
Gerard E. Evans, Ltd. ……………….$2,399,606
Venable, LLP …………………………….$2,023,022
Bruce Bereano ………………………….$1,917,800
Harris Jones & Malone LLC ……….$1,909,079
Schwartz, Metz & Wise, P.A. ………$1,702,492
Capitol Strategies, LLC ……………..$1,666,758
Cornerstone Government Affairs …$1,191,646
DLA Piper LLP ….. …………………..$1,006,969
Here is the list of lobbyists who made more than $1 million:
Tim Perry…………..$2,391,697
Gerry Evans ……….$2,171,510
Bruce Bereano ……$1,917,800
Michael Johansen .$1,384,937
Lisa Harris Jones.. $1,138,779
John Stierhoff…… $1,131,206
Nick Manis ……….$1,079.300
Rob Garagiola …..$1,045,618
MarylandReporter.com is a daily news website produced by journalists committed to making state government as open, transparent, accountable and responsive as possible – in deed, not just in promise. We believe the people who pay for this government are entitled to have their money spent in an efficient and effective way, and that they are entitled to keep as much of their hard-earned dollars as they possibly can.