According to a report released last week by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, more than $18 million was spent lobbying the state legislature during the 2009 legislative session.

As is typically the case in Oregon, Government entities, chemical manufacturers, unions, private insurers, and utilities were among the biggest spenders on lobbying.

Some standout expenditures...

• $468,269 by the Citizens for Fire Safety Institute, which is funded primarily by chemical manufacturers, which appears to be a front organization for chemical manufacturers that produce the toxic flame retardant, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE). The group has spent millions lobying state legislatures around the country to block legislative initiatives to regulate PBDE's.
• $193,765 by Bradwood Landing LLC and the LNG Development Company, which sought to facilitate a fast-track permitting process for siting LNG pipelines on private land.
• $585,000 by public-sector unions (OEA, AFSCME, SEIU).
• $274,000 by Oregon's largest private utilities (PGE, PacifiCorp)
• $101,000 by the Oregon Humane Society, which passed legislation to regulate commercial puppy-mills.