The Maryland Zoo spent gobs of money on a lobbyist between 2004 and 2006, and in 2008 it still underperforms in attendance and stands to lose its accreditation -- in part because the wages it pays its workers are too low. According to the rankings of money spent in Annapolis on lobbying, the zoo was ahead of the horse racing industry and Comcast in 2006. Former state Sen. Barbara Hoffman got this action. According to records, her Artemis Group lobbied for the zoo and received $286,346 in 2006, $356,642 in 2005 and $321,174 in 2004.

Plus, as The Sun's Doug Donovan reported the other day, Billie Grieb, the former president of the zoo, made $205,774 salary -- and that was in 2005. Four other executives made more than $100,000.

Not sure what they're paying him, but it's a good thing Hutch, former CEO of Sun Trust, has taken over management of the zoo. If Annapolis or Washington needs a pitch from the zoo, Donald P. can handle it. There should be no need to hire a lobbyist and pay nearly a million bucks that could be better spent on advertising and marketing to attract more customers and pay the workers better wages.