Lobbyists Spend $33 Million to Influence State Government

California lobbyists spent more than $33 million to influence the Legislature and state government agencies during the first half of 1986, the state Fair Political Practices Commission reported Thursday.

The six-month total was down slightly from the corresponding period of 1985, but was more than three times the approximately $10 million spent in the first half of 1975, the year the commission began monitoring such activities.

Big business organizations spent $16.1 million, or 48.8% of the $33.07 million total on lobbying, the report said.

The biggest individual spender was Western Oil & Gas Assn., which paid $871,830 to try to influence legislative and administrative actions of government agencies.

Next, in order, were the California Manufacturers Assn., $823,830; California Medical Assn., $535,311; California Teachers Assn., $402,073, and the Assn. of California Insurance Companies, $391,307.

The lobbying firm receiving the largest payment for services was Jackson Barish & Associates with $676,144. The firm, headed by veteran lobbyist Clayton R. Jackson, is employed by a variety of clients, including breweries, insurance companies, lottery equipment manufacturers and irrigation districts.

The second-ranked lobbying firm was Carpenter Zenovich & Associates with $526,338. It is headed by Dennis Carpenter, a former Republican state senator from Newport Beach, and former Democratic state Sen. George Zenovich from Fresno, who gave up an appellate court judgeship to lobby.

Next were Advocation Inc., $497,201; George Steffes Inc., $381,958; and A-K Associates Inc., $379,725. Steffes was a legislative aide to Ronald Reagan when he was governor.

More than $74 million was spent on lobbying last year, $36.1 million of it during the first six months of 1985.

A commission spokesman said this year’s decline was explained in part by a new law that excludes from reporting requirements certain payments made by public utilities in connection with rate-setting cases before the Public Utilities Commission.