NEW YORK - Common Cause/NY issued an update to its earlier report entitled Deep Drilling, Deep Pockets, Expenditures of the Natural Gas Industry in New York to Influence Public Policy, Part 1 – Lobbying Expenditures, a detailed analysis of the natural gas industry's lobbying expenditures in New York State over the 2005-2009 five year periods, to include the first 6 months of 2010. The earlier report was released in June, before the 6 month reports were filed.

As pressure mounts on the Legislature to pass a bill declaring a moratorium on natural gas exploitation using the controversial hydraulic fracturing technique, industry has poured over one million dollars into lobbying the Governor and the New York State Legislature in the first 6 months of 2010. The analysis, based on lobbying reports filed with the New York State Commission on Public Integrity, shows a dramatic jump in the amounts natural gas companies are spending in lobbying in the last 2 years, with a significant out-pouring of lobbying dollars in 2010.

"New York State's policies regarding hydro-fracking will have a profound impact on the future of our state," said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY. " It is imperative that those policies are not unduly influenced by large infusions of natural gas industry dollars in the guise of 'grassroots campaigns.' With the release of the most recent lobbying reports, it's clear that Chesapeake Energy is well on its way to a second year on the top 50 lobbying spenders list, having spent $958,490 lobbying since January 1, 2010."