Lobbyist spending has surged in Kansas this year, particularly in April when there was an advertising campaign against legislation to tax sugary drinks. That

legislation ultimately failed.

Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission data shows lobbyists reported spending more than $1.1 million for January through April.

The lobbyist coordinator for the agency, Ruth Pile, told The Hutchinson News it’s quite possible that 2010 could be a record year.

Pile says there will be two more spending reports that will

cover the rest of the calendar year.