Syracuse University reported $50,000 in lobbying expenses for the third quarter of 2011, but it did not lobby the federal government on any specific issues.

Third quarter reports were filed to the Senate on Oct. 20. The lack of lobbying during the third quarter is the result of a transition period in the leadership of SU’s Government and Community Relations office, said Kevin Quinn, senior vice president for public affairs.

The $50,000 in expenses is from payments to an outside lobbyist SU keeps on retention and dues to national organizations that are attributed to lobbying, Quinn said. In 2011, SU spent a total of $180,000 on lobbying, according to data by the Center for Responsive Politics. The university lobbied on a variety of issues pertaining directly to SU, including education, veterans affairs and federal budget and appropriations, as well as a number of national and international issues.

The university’s lobbying efforts have increased consistently each year since 2000. In both 2009 and 2010, the university spent more than $280,000 on federal-level lobbying. The university averages between $60,000 to $80,000 in lobbying expenses per quarter. Based on this year’s reports, SU is on par to spend less on lobbying this year than it has in recent years.

‘We look to the issues that resonate nationally as important for SU and our students, but also resonate with our counterparts — both other universities and the array of national organizations that we are a part of,’ Quinn said.

In 2011, the university increased its lobbying on veterans affairs. SU specifically asked Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle (R-Onondaga Hill) to support the Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act and to provide funding for the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities, a program based in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management.

On education issues, SU asked Buerkle and Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, both Democrats from New York, to oppose cuts in funding to student financial aid. The university has also consistently lobbied for more funding for science, technology, engineering and math programs.

SU asked Buerkle to support specific university initiatives, including the Near Westside Initiative. University members gave Buerkle a tour of the initiative and requested her support for a Neighborhood Planning Grant, according to lobbying reports.

Buerkle wrote a letter in support of SU receiving the grant, said Liza Lowery, communications director for her office.

Buerkle did vote to cut spending for Pell Grants, NPR and several other issues SU lobbied on, Lowery said.

‘The congresswoman voted in favor of cuts but not as specific to those programs as much as recognizing that this nation has to stop spending money,’ Lowery said.

Aside from SU-related issues, the university has also lobbied on defense, immigration and foreign relations in 2011.

For example, earlier in 2011, SU asked Gillibrand to support developing biodiesel in Afghanistan, according to lobbying reports. It also lobbied in support of launching a Forensic and Natural Sciences Institute, which is designed to train future scientists.

SU does its own lobbying and hires an outside lobbyist, Daniel French. SU has a relatively small internal lobbying staff compared to other national universities, Quinn said.

Quinn said: ‘We’ve found the most effective way and, quite frankly, the most cost-effective way is to supplement our small office with both a state and federal lobbyist.’

kronayne@syr.edu

Published on October 26, 2011 at 12:00 pm