Here's one thing you can be sure about amid all the uncertainty in state and federal government: The market is growing for public-policy public relations firms.

Both the state and federal governments are looking for more money, and no one is sure where it will come from. So business groups are doing more to ensure they have the ear of lawmakers when new taxes or fees are debated.

Most recently, Chicago's Mac Strategies Group hired top Rahm Emanuel political aide Tom Bowen to expand its footprint in this area. Other public policy public relations firms are growing as well.

When government at various levels is trying to raise more revenue, it gets the attention of groups representing the businesses that might have to fork over those revenues. Paying just a few lobbyists to keeps tabs on things in Springfield and Washington isn't seen as enough anymore.

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