Here is a link to an article concerning a PEER Committee report on the practice of State agencies using taxpayer funds to employ lobbyists.

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080826/NEWS/80...

I have been appointed by the Senate Ethics Committee Chairman, Merle Flowers to chair a sub-committee on Governmental Accountability. The sub-committee will be investigating the practice of state agencies hiring lobbyists with taxpayer funds. While we don't feel that the practice is widespread, we want to determine which agencies have been utilizing lobbyists and if such use is a legitimate expenditure of taxpayer money. I anticipate that there will be a day or two of hearings in November before any conclusions are reached by the committee. Taxpayers should always know how tax dollars are being spent and this is an effort to provide greater accountability in that regard.