Illinois Ed. Hires Big-Time Washington Lobbyists
A recent decision by Illinois education officials to hire a top Washington lobbying firm to pursue more federal funding for the state is raising eyebrows among observers both inside and outside the Capital Beltway.
The Illinois board of education—in partnership with the two boards overseeing the state's higher education system—agreed last month to pay $182,000 for a five-month contract with Barbour, Griffith & Rogers. The law firm is owned in part by Haley Barbour, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, and has represented such corporate giants as Phillip Morris and the Microsoft Corp. The contract was signed Jan. 24.
While a handful of education agencies in large states, such as California and New York, have had representatives in Washington for a number of years, observers say the high profile—and high cost—of the firm...
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