HARRISBURG -- Lobbyists are spending more money than ever, according to a new report released by the state Senate.

Senate lobbyists spent $67.8 million in the first half of 2005 alone, according to the latest figures available. That is the equivalent of about $1.4 million per senator.

Health care lobbyists topped spending at $15.6 million for the six-month period. Spending for construction and manufacturing groups came in second at $15 million and telecommunications was third with $5.8 million.

"These numbers confirm what Pennsylvanians have long believed: Lobbying is big business, and as the issues legislators confront become more complex and more contentious, the resources poured into lobbying will continue to grow," said Senate President Pro Tem Robert C. Jubelirer, R-Altoona.

The gambling lobby is an example of that. Spending has quadrupled since the first quarter of 2003, when gambling lobbyists reported $328,982 in expenditures.

Once the state Gaming Control Board issues licenses later this year, holders will face spending restrictions, including a prohibition on campaign contributions.

Spending by the gambling lobby peaked at $1,478,225 in the second quarter of 2004 as the Legislature was preparing to legalize slots casinos. Overall, gambling lobbyists spent $10.7 million between January 2003 and June 2005, according to the report.

That kind of spending itself is a gamble, Mr. Jubelirer said.

"Some groups who spend very little achieve some big results, while others who are quite active and aggressive end up with far less than they were seeking," he said.

The state's 717 registered lobbyists represent 1,368 organizations ranging from the AAA Federation to the Zoological Council.

They spent a total of $86.8 million in 2003 and $122.2 million in 2004. Reported expenses include the cost of employees, office expenses, gifts, entertainment, transportation, lodging, advertising, billboards, mailings and more.

The health, pharmaceutical and telecommunications lobbies have had the fastest rate of spending growth since 2003, the Senate report shows.

In the first quarter of 2003, the health care lobby spent $2 million, pharmaceuticals spent $296,000 and telecom spent $530,000. In the first quarter of last year, they spent $9.1 million, $1.3 million and $3.1 million, respectively.

The figures were provided in accordance with last year's lobbyist disclosure law sponsored by Mr. Jubelirer.

Mr. Jubelirer wants an accounting of House lobbyist expenditures, too, but the state Supreme Court struck down a disclosure statute in 2002 because some lawyers double as lobbyists, and the state Constitution says only the judicial branch can regulate attorneys. The Senate set its own disclosure rules a year later but the House has not.

The Senate rule requires any individual, firm or partnership that spends at least $2,500 quarterly to report those expenditures.

"People should have a law under which the universe of lobbying activity is publicly revealed. If people are given the chance to see what is taking place they have a better chance of making informed judgments about the actions of state government," Mr. Jubelirer said.

"Until there is a statewide requirement that covers activity relating to the House and the executive branch, people are forced to speculate about what is an effort to educate and what is an effort to influence."

Common Cause/Pennsylvania and other advocates of open government are pressing for House members to institute a spending disclosure requirement for lobbyists.

House Speaker John Perzel, R-Philadelphia, says it's unnecessary and that the news media are the only ones interested in lobbyist spending.