In the second quarter of 2014, two of the most contentious issues facing Florida and Tampa Bay — red-light cameras and the clash between tech company Uber and Hillsborough County taxicab providers — helped lobbyists Louis Betz & Associates earn nearly $190K.
The firm’s core team, founder Louis Betz and Travis Mitchell, report a maximum of $189,985 in legislative advocacy fees for Q2 2014, up from $129,990 raised in the previous quarter.
Among the 23 legislative and 16 executive clients, Betz’s largest checks — providing the firm up to $19,999 in legislative lobbying fees each — include one from red-light camera vendor American Traffic Solutions, Inc., which faces pushback in many of the municipalities across Florida that have installed RLCs.
Another top client was the Tampa Taxi Coalition, which also faces regulatory battles over limousine regulations in Hillsborough County to allow expansion of the popular on-demand towncar service Uber in Florida.
Betz’s other top Q2 clients are Texas-based Waste Management, Inc. and Moffitt Cancer Center.
Further down the client list — at a maximum $9,999 range:
- TransCare Medical Transportation Services
- Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority
- Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
- MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry)
