Buried within the lobbyist compensation report for the 125th Legislature is data that illustrate some of the most intensely lobbied — and contentious — policy initiatives of the session.

According to reports from the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices, some of the most concentrated lobbying activity centered on a controversial bill that loosened regulations to allow mining on Bald Mountain in Aroostook County.

Groups spent $85,084 in March advocating for the proposal. Aroostook Timberlands, a subsidiary of J.D. Irving Ltd., the Canada-based corporation and Maine’s largest landowner, was the biggest spender, paying lobbyists $73,348 over a one-month period.

The figure doesn’t represent the total amount spent lobbying the proposal. Disclosure law requires lobbyists to reveal expenditures for specific legislation only if they spend more than $1,000 in one month while working for one organization.

The state budget is typically a big draw for lobbyists as dozens of interest groups compete for funding.

The over-$1,000 report shows lobbyists were paid more than $200,000 last year to influence state spending decisions.

This year lobbyists spent a minimum of $82,000 attempting to influence Gov. Paul LePage’s controversial cuts to MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program.

Last year’s watchdog report on the spending practices of the Maine Turnpike Authority generated a lot of lobbying activity, mostly by the turnpike authority. The MTA spent close to $40,000 lobbying lawmakers about a report that ultimately led to the indictment of former director Paul Violette.

Violette was sentenced this spring to 31⁄2 years in prison for stealing about $430,000 from the MTA.

Lobbyists spent over $33,000 last year to facilitate the state’s purchase of the Dolby landfill in East Millinocket. Brookfield Renewable Power, who sold the landfill, spent $27,389 hoping to facilitate the transaction.

Insurance companies and health advocates spent in excess of $30,000 working L.D. 1333, the controversial health insurance reform bill passed last year.

Other lobbying spenders included:

• Lafayette Ocean Resort spent $20,000 last year advocating for a bill altering the state’s sand dune law so that the company can build a $2 million resort in Wells. The bill passed.

• Southsong LLC, a real estate company from Texas, spent $18,272 lobbying the bill to legalize consumer fireworks. The bill was enacted.

• Maine Racing LLC spent over $17,700 over a three-month period hoping to achieve legislative authorization of the Biddeford racino and partner facility in Calais. Maine Racing spent $60,000 last year advocating for the proposal. Ocean Properties, the project developer, spent $18,742.
The racino did not receive legislative approval and was rejected by voters in November.

• Miller Hydro Group, a hydroelectric dam operator in Lisbon Falls, spent $16,715 last year to fight a bill creating higher water quality standards for the Androscoggin River. The bill died in committee.