New Jersey lawmakers debate 2016 state budget as lobbyists push other legislation

New Jersey's 2016 budget is at the top of the Legislature's agenda as the June 30 deadline approaches. But legions of lobbyists have been pushing other bills in the halls of the statehouse.

And for the first time, residents are getting a glimpse of the more than 2,000 contacts made between registered government affairs agents and officials.

Those meetings and emails cover the 10 most heavily lobbied bills and touch on issues including paid sick time, out-of-network insurance costs and domestically made products.

The state's Election Law Enforcement Commission recently released data showing which bills attracted the most attention from lobbyists.

The data show how lobbyists earned a combined $53.8 million in 2014 and suggest that a range of issues drives the agenda in Trenton.