At Least 11 Republicans Pledge To Reject Lobbyist Meals, Gifts
The transactions range from a $2.35 cup of coffee to $402.55 worth of food and alcohol at an upscale Oklahoma City restaurant.
Add it all up, and lobbyists have spent more than $414,000 on meals, beverages and gifts for lawmakers since January 2025. That number is likely to increase as the legislative session marches toward sine die and the latest lobbyist spending reports come due in early May.
Many lawmakers, who work part-time and are term-limited, said the meals help them learn about complex issues and fine-tune legislation. But the rate of spending has drawn the ire of a slew of Republican primary challengers, who are hitting the campaign trail with a message that their opponents are more beholden to lobbyists than their constituents.