Lobbyist spending in Michigan took a steep dive in 2009, falling $2.3 million. The 6.8 percent drop in spending totaled $31,849,916 in 2009, according to a release by the Michigan Campaign Finance Network.

The state’s top lobbyists, however, haven’t seen the same fall in spending smaller groups have. The top 200 lobbyist reported spending $21,910,469 in 2009, just under the $21,918,729 reportedly spent in 2008.

“Michigan lobbying reports reveal less about the activity of lobbyists than federal reports or those in many other states,” said Rich Robinson of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network. “It appears that Michigan legislators just won’t require transparency from the interest groups that finance their political campaigns. Michigan citizens deserve better.”

Lobbyists are not required to report travel and lodging expenditures for lobbyable officials that are less than $725, or gift or entertainment expenditures that are less than $56. There is no requirement to report food expenditures until they exceed $56 in a month for a lobbyable official, or $350 in a calendar year.

Read the full report on spending by the top 200 Michigan lobbyists here.

Reported Michigan Lobbying Expenditures, 2001-2009