Trenk said the association is using more attorneys to help it draft and offer expert testimony at hearings.

"It costs us more money to do that, but we get better representation to have folks with that level of expertise to be able to assist us," she said.

David Hoffman, PPL Montana's external affairs manager, said the company reports its expenditures "very thoroughly" and weighs in on the side of caution.

"We have very important issues that span the gamut from taxation to protection of senior water rights to energy issues and environmental issues," he said.

Hoffman said the company is dealing with a lot of issues and takes them seriously.

"We want to protect a significant investment in Montana," said Hoffman, referring to its purchase of Montana Power Co.'s dams and coal-fired power plants in 1999.

Eric Feaver, MEA-MFT president, said, "Basically, we spend what we think we have to in order to create and maintain a presence at the Legislature. We have a number of lobbyists who work at MEA-MFT, and I'm one of them."

Feaver said the MEA-MFT sponsored several rallies at the Capitol, including one large one, and they cost money.