Former Gov. Olene Walker, who for 11 years was lieutenant governor to former Gov. Mike Leavitt before succeeding him in November 2003, said Thursday she doesn't remember what specific work the lobbyists did for the state. "We were doing most of the lobbying ourselves, especially on keeping Hill (Air Force Base) open, " said Walker, who recalled that one lobbying firm's contract was cut short because it wasn't producing the results state officials wanted.

The Utah Transit Authority spent more than $1.6 million on D.C. lobbyists. But over the same time frame, said UTA spokesman Justin Jones, "We've gotten $377 million in federal discretionary funds, money that could have gone to other transit districts if we don't fight for it." Much of UTA's successful light-rail system was built with that money, he added.

The tremendous amount of money being spent on D.C. lobbyists — a total of $13 billion spent by public and private entities since 1998— has fueled a robust lobbying industry that now employs more than 14,000 people.

And the amount being spent to influence Congress and administration officials now exceeds the amount spent by candidates seeking federal office, the report found.

Spending by Utah entities ranked 36th among the 50 states and six territories.

According to the study, 119 different Utah companies or organizations spent $28 million from 1998 to mid-2004 on lobbying activities.

Envirocare of Utah spent more on lobbying — almost $6.8 million — than any other Utah company.

Huntsman Corp. was close behind with $6.5 million, and 1-800-Contacts was fifth with $1.35 million.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., son of Huntsman Corp. founder Jon Huntsman Sr., recently closed down the state's two-person D.C. office, saying he would work with the state congressional delegation to serve the state's needs. (The center's report runs through June 2004, and Huntsman took office Jan. 1 of this year.)

However, Huntsman has also issued a request-for-proposal for private lobbyists to handle some Utah work, and Huntsman chief of staff Jason Chaffetz says new lobbyists may be hired.

One out of every four Utah dollars spent on lobbying came from a publicly funded entity. In fact, three of the six Utah entities that spent more than $1 million on lobbying were funded with tax dollars — the University of Utah, UTA and state government.

Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies, told the public policy center that it "would be penny-wise, pound-foolish" for state and local governments not to have a presence in Washington. If they don't, "The federal government screws the states, the states screw the counties. And the cities and counties don't have any money left," he said.