The city of Pueblo is smart to have a lobbying presence in Washington, D.C., yet we question the $9,400 cost of sending as many as five members of the City Council to the nation’s capital last week. Why not rotate the trip annually to include one or two members? Then all seven members eventually could gain the experience but at lower total cost to local taxpayers.

That said, City Council still should look favorably upon renewing the contract of Kogovsek & Associates, the longtime professional lobbying firm founded by the late Ray Kogovsek, himself a former congressman from Pueblo who died on April 30. In his absence, the firm now is in the able hands of his longtime partner, Christine Arbogast.

The lobbyists’ $32,300 annual cost seems justified, given the millions of dollars at stake whenever Congress and a multitude of federal agencies make decisions affecting our city. The contract pays for itself and then some if the city prevails on the federal government on just one or two things every year or so.

Read more at The Pueblo Chieftain.