The top 10 spenders on lobbying state government in 2013

$65,125,023.00

That's how much money lobbyists spent last year to influence legislation being debated at the Minnesota Capitol.

While that may seem like an eye-popping figure, it's not out of step with how much interest groups have spent in previous sessions.

You can see the entire list here.

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Coming in first place was the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, which spent $2.1 million last year. They were followed by the Minnesota Business Partnership, which spent $1.48 million.

Among other things, both groups objected to a handful of business-to-businesses taxes the DFL-controlled legislature passed last session. Both groups are working this year to undo those taxes.

Coming in fourth was Minnesotans United, a group that supports same-sex marriage. They spent $1.14 million on lobbying, which paid off when the Legislature legalized it last year.

While they didn't make the top 10 spenders, AFSCME Council 5 spent $490,000 last year -- more than three times the amount in 2011. With the DFL newly in control of the Legislature, the union was weighing-in on an array of issues, including the unionization of daycare providers and a minimum wage increase.

Here are the top 10 biggest spenders from last year:

  1. Minnesota Chamber of Commerce: $2,100,000

  2. Minnesota Business Partnership: $1,480,000

  3. Education Minnesota: $1,220,000

  4. Minnesotans United: $1,140,000

  5. Altria Client Services, Inc. and its Affiliates: $1,060,000

  6. Coalition of Minnesota Businesses: $900,000

  7. Coalition of Greater MN Cities: $840,000

  8. Minnesota Radiation Oncology Physicians: $700,000

  9. Xcel Energy Services: $662,025

  10. League of Minnesota Cities: $628,945