The Committee To Save New York, a consortium of wealthy business interests backing Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s fiscal record and agenda, outspent nearly every other lobbying campaign in the first 10 months of 2011, according to an analysis from the New York Public Interest Research Group.

The group, which has invested heavily in television ads including a recent one launched following Cuomo’s successful push for an overhaul of the state’s tax code, spent $9.7 million.

As Liz scooped earlier, CSNY and consulting/lobbying firm DKC parted ways earlier this year. The split wasn’t acrimonious, but due to the on-again, off-again nature of the committee.

CSNY was formed prior to the 2011 session as a way to counteract the expected pushback from unions and other interest groups who were expected to oppose Cuomo’s fiscal message of capping property taxes, slashing the budget and not raising taxes.

CSNY was perhaps most effective during the budget season, but also had the backing of the governor when he was hit by liberals for not taking up an extension of the so-called millionaires tax. Of course, that worm turned when Cuomo proposed adjusted rates on those making $1 million or more, giving the wealthy a smaller tax cut than they were originally in line to receive by the end of the year.

Key for Cuomo during the tax code overhaul negotiations was getting committee members like Kathy Wylde of the Partnership for New York City on board and, naturally, she was.

The group now plans to take up the causes of overhauling the pension system, passing mandate relief and regulatory reform, and legalizing non-Indian casino gambling, that last priority is one that Cuomo says he has an agreement on with legislative leaders.

But underscoring how unions geared up for an extensive campaign this year, 1199 SEIU/GHNYA Health Care project and the state United Teachers union also spent big, placing second and third on most expensive lobbying efforts behind CSNY. 1199 doubled the amount spent on lobbying in 2010, pumping out $6.8 million for legislative influencing efforts. NYSUT spent just over $4 million or slightly less than last year.

Wal-Mart, which is trying to get its first New York City location, spent $2.6 million lobbying the state, up from $113,432 in 2010.

Overall, $187.5 million was spent on lobbying in New York between January and October. That’s $26 million short of the record set for the full 12-months of 2010.

NYPIRG Lobbying Jan-Oct 2011

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