SPENDING ON LOBBYING was down across the board in 2012, but  the education industry led the way in tightening the purse strings. According to OpenSecrets.org, “In 2011, the industry, which includes both for-profit and nonprofit colleges and universities and trade associations that represent both, reported spending about $106 million on lobbying expenses. In 2012 it spent only $88.6 million — a decline of more than $17.6 million.” There are almost 4,500 college and universities in the U.S., and in 2013 688 of them had lobbyists in DC. That’s down from 925 colleges that employed some 1,653 lobbyists in 2008.

All but three of Michigan public and private universities and colleges have part-time lobbyists who work on their behalf in Washington. Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University — the state’s top three trio of research universities — have full-time lobbying staff working the rooms on Capitol Hill.

Eastern Michigan University hired DC lobbying heavy-hitter Van Scoyoc Associates. The company earned $15.09 million in lobbying fees from clients in 2013, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets.org. EMU paid $30,000 to be represented by Van Scoyoc Associates in DC. Relative to the lobbyist’s other clients, the EMU spend is modest in comparison. The University of Alabama employs Van Scoyoc, as well, and paid the company $270,000 in 2013, according to records.

In 2013, through Van Scoyoc EMU lobbied on H.R.2217: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2014, as well as Clients lobbying on H.R.2397: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2014.

In specific, among the issues lobbied by EMU was Public Law 112-32, Combating Autism Reauthorization Act, Issues regarding Family Services. It is an effort to reauthorize the Combating Autism Act of 2006 and the $161,000,000 allocated annually for autism education, early detection, and intervention.

According to records, in total, Van Scoyoc lobbied 10 bills on behalf of EMU in 2013. The university was in search of appropriations from the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security (cyber-security), Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, among others.

According to an EMU spokesman, “Van Scoyoc & Associates has represented Eastern Michigan University since 2002.  They play an important role in helping the University identify and secure competitive grant funding and connections with key officials in Washington.  Contrary to your assertion, Van Scoyoc is known for its deep ties to higher education.  Van Scoyoc represents over 30 public and private institutions of higher education, including the University of Notre Dame, Texas A&M University, the University of Nebraska, University of Alabama System, and John Jay College of Criminal Justice.”

While Van Scoyoc lobbies for a variety of non-profit and education clients within higher education, such as EMU and the University of Alabama, the company also lobbies for the oil & gas, defense and big phrama industries.

So while Van Scoyoc lobbies for Earth Network, a non-profit which is “an environmental sensor networking company dedicated to understanding the planet and its atmosphere,” Van Scoyoc Associates also lobbies for the International Association of Drilling Contractors, a group which supports fracking.

In July 2013, three of Ann Arbor’s state-level representatives introduced a proposal to require fracking “safeguards.” Representative Gretchen Driskell said in a release, “My bill allows local control of where fracking sites can be located. I believe it’s important for our citizens to participate in the decision-making process when issues like this impact them right in their backyard.”

The Ann Arbor Independent recently reported that the University of Michigan employs four full-time staffers to lobby Congress at a cost estimated to top $1.2 million per year, including salaries, benefits and expenses.

In 2013, higher education institutions spent $63.8 million on lobbying. That’s down from $91.1 spent in 2012. The amount EMU has spent on lobbying has fallen significantly. In 2007, EMU spent $160,000 on lobbying, and in 2013 spent $30,000.

In 2012, EMU grappled with a multi-million dollar shortfall in its $281.3 million budget. That same year, money from federal contracts and grants dropped by $2.3 million over what the university took in 2011.

In 2012, EMU took in $6.1 in research money. In 2009 alone the University of Michigan’s lobbyists landed $695 million in money for research and financial aid.

In light of EMU’s budget crunch, and the small amount of research funding awarded, it’s no surprise that the college hired a heavy-hitting DC lobbying firm. What remains to be seen is whether Van Scoyoc Associates can work its magic.