There is no such thing as a free lunch.

Yet, many Michigan lawmakers would have us all think as much.

A report released last week by the Michigan Campaign Finance Network — a nonpartisan organization that logs and disseminates political finance information — showed lobbyists reported spending $821,640 on food and drinks in 2017, 33 percent more than they spent 10 years ago.

The breakdown included somewhat detailed per-politician spending records — lobbyists only are required to report spending on individual lawmakers if they exceed $59 in a month or $375 in a year. Those loopholes mean there are plenty of small meals or drink tabs that wouldn’t be required to be reported to the public, including an exemption that allows for unlimited spending on legislative staffers’ meals without reporting.

What information was reported for 2017 showed northern Michigan lawmakers, including the list-topping state Rep. Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, spent more time than his peers, dining with lobbyists. Those lobbyists reported spending $3,702 on food and drink for Chatfield in 2017, $2,138 in free meals came from Governmental Consultant Services. That lobbying firm is listed as the biggest individual spender for 11 of the top 15 individual lawmakers who received free food and drink.

For perspective, that $3,702 tab would buy a $71 worth of food and drinks each week for a year. A budget-minded lobbyist could stretch a budget like that into hours of one-on-one time with a lawmaker each week.

State Sen. Wayne Schmidt and state Reps. Larry Inman and Triston Cole each received more than $1,000 in meals and drinks bought by lobbyists. Enough to rank them all in the top 30 recipients of lobbyists’ food and drink spending.

So what do all those meals buy? The answer: important access to important leaders of Michigan.

Many lawmakers have argued a swanky steak dinner or a few beers doesn’t equate to influence bought, but there is no doubt lobbyists secured a mountain of face time with our elected representatives for their $821,640 spent to dine with lawmakers.

We likely will never know if legislation was steered by those interactions because Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act allows a cutout that prevents the public from obtaining emails, other correspondence or even schedules that might indicate what discussions take place at all those lunches, dinners and after-hours elbow rubbing at the pub.

Wouldn’t it be nice to know what those lobbyist want with the access they’ve gained?

Considering Michiganders pick up the tab for any bills passed or steered by all those meals, it seems we should at least be privy to the subject of dinner conversation.

— Traverse City Record-Eagle