H.M.O.'s say that some lobbying expenses may indeed have been included with other administrative costs in the past.

A lot of our lobbying expenses he paid out of his own pocket.

The state's business interests showed only modest increases in their lobbying expenses even though they, too, had much at stake.

The penalties stemmed from 15 instances in which the company misrepresented its lobbying expenses from 1996 to 1998.

The lobbying commission is looking into whether those ads should have been considered a lobbying expense, intended to influence legislation.

In 2009, total lobbying expenses jumped to $4.5 million, or nearly double the previous year.

Much of the increased lobbying expenses are due to the industry's fight against increased taxes on soft drinks and other sweetened beverages.

This is the 15th consecutive year that lobbying expenses have risen.

Even a brief mention of pending legislation in a fund-raising letter could make the mailing count as a lobbying expense.

Presently, there is a $25,000 maximum penalty for not reporting a lobbying expense.