COLUMBUS, Ohio -- As Ohio’s natural gas industry has boomed, so have contributions to politicians from that industry, a study by Common Cause Ohio found.

The study showed companies in the natural gas industry and those engaged in hydraulic fracturing, a process commonly called fracking that frees gas from the earth, gave more than $1.8 million to Ohio elected officials, candidates and political parties from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2013.

That, coupled with a lack of reporting requirements for compensation paid to political lobbyists should raise questions with voters about transparency and just who has access to government, said Catherine Turcer, a policy analyst for Common Cause Ohio, an advocacy organization that promotes government accountability.

“When you start to think about the influence of money in politics, I think it’s really easy just to think, ‘Hey, this is business as usual.’ ... Until you start thinking about the fact that we’re talking about $1.8 million from those who engage directly in fracking, those who have permits in fracking and those that are part of the natural gas industry,” Turcer said.

“Now clearly, there are some ideological differences that make a difference in donations. But ... why is it that donations are given in an odd-numbered year in January? You’re so far away from the election,” Turcer said. “It’s all about access. It’s all about getting the ear of a legislator.”

The vast majority -- about $1.6 million -- went to Republicans, the study found. Not a surprise, Turcer said, when you consider they hold majorities in both houses of the General Assembly and the governor’s office.

Rep. Dave Hall of Millersburg, in Ohio's shale gas region, received the most, $164,665, the report found. Second was House Speaker William G. Batchelder at $137,893. Governor John Kasich ranked third with $101,065. The top Democrat recipient was State Sen. Lou Gentile of Steubenville, who ranked 25th and received $15,250.

The concern, said James Browning, a regional director for state operations for Common Cause, is that the reported contributions to politicians is only part of the picture. What is not clear is how much money is the industry pouring into lobbyists -- people on the spot ready to contact legislators immediately when needed.

That’s because Ohio doesn’t require compensation be reported, Browning said. But that, he argued, tells something about the access the industry can have to the government.

Browning contrasted what the study found for Ohio with what is reported in Pennsylvania, where the natural gas industry also is booming.

In Ohio, the industry’s lobbyists reported $43,000 in expenditures for 2011 and 2012. But Ohio’s laws only require they report money spent on gifts, means and travel for legislators. It does not require that they report how much they were paid, though, from their clients.

In Pennsylvania, where reporting requirements are more stringent, lobbying expenditures by fracking interests were about $12.7 million for the same period.

Ohio does not have a waiting period before former legislators can return as lobbyists. And the state’s term limits naturally turn out legislators who then need to find work.

“Ohio is one of only four states where you have term limits, where you have no revolving door law, and then you don’t have disclosure of the money that these legislators turned lobbyists are making,” Browning said.

“It’s really unfair to the public when you consider it,” he said. “What are the resources of the people who are having some problems with fracking vs. what are the resources of the people who are profiting off fracking.”