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Corporate Purchase of Congress

From the Organic Consumers Association

A List of Corporate Lobbying by Jill Richardson

Out of curiosity I decided to see who was spending the most on lobbying
in America. And Oh My Goodness - NO WONDER our policy sucks. No wonder
it's nearly impossible to pass health care reform that provides all
Americans with affordable care, a global warming bill that doesn't suck,
and the Employee Free Choice Act. No wonder we're in these two stupid
wars. I know everyone's aware of the problems lobbying poses to our
country, but good lord, if people saw the sheer magnitude of it (and the
comparatively paltry amounts spent in the people's interest) they would
be outraged. So here goes. Here's the list of the top 100 (ranked by
amount spent on lobbying in Q109). Enjoy.

I pulled up all of the reports for first quarter 2009 but over 20,000
items came up (and the report only shows the first 3000). OK, try again
- all reports for over $1 million for first quarter 2009. This time a
little over 100 came up (including AIG, who spent $1,250,000 on lobbying
during that period).

So here's how to read this list: These are the amounts spent by the
corporations listed. However, many (if not most) of these corporations
ALSO contract out to private lobbying firms, so the amounts you see here
MIGHT not be the total amount they spent on lobbying in Q109. For
example, Monsanto spent $2,094,000 for its in house lobbying but then
contracted out to Arent Fox LLP; Lesher, Russell & Barron, Inc.
($60,000); Ogilvy Government Relations ($60,000); Parven Pomper
Strategies ($40,000); Sidley Austin LLP; TCH Group, LLC ($50,000); The
Nickles Group, LLC ($63,000); The Washington Tax Group, LLC ($40,000);
and Troutman Sanders Public Affairs Group ($30,000) - for a total of
$2,437,000 in first quarter 2009.

Health Care, Health Insurance, & Pharma
3. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America: $6,910,000
6. Pfizer, Inc: $6,140,000
12. American Medical Association: $4,240,000
18. American Hospital Association: $3,580,000
19. Eli Lilly and Company: $3,440,000
37. America's Health Insurance Plans, Inc: $2,030,000
39. CVS Caremark Inc: $2,005,000
47. Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association: $1,800,000
49. GlaxoSmithKline: $1,780,000
63. Merck & Co: $1,500,000
65. United Health Group, Inc: $1,500,000
69. Sanofi-Aventis U.S. Inc: $1,460,000
76. Novartis: $1,347,134
87. Abbott Laboratories: $1,260,000
89. Astrazeneca Pharmaceuticals, LP: $1,250,000
92. Medtronic, Inc: $1,238,000

Oil
2. Exxon Mobil: $9,320,000
4. Chevron U.S.A. Inc: $6,800,000
7. Conoco Phillips: $5,980,935
16. BP America, Inc: $3,610,000
20. Marathon Oil Corporation: $3,380,000
45. American Petroleum Institute: $1,810,000

Defense
5. Lockheed Martin Corporation: $6,380,000
11. General Electric Company: $4,540,000
28. Northrop Grumman Corporation: $2,570,000
30. Boeing Company: $2,410,00
51. Honeywell International: $1,760,000
73. Raytheon Company: $1,360,000

Telecoms
10. AT&T Services, Inc: $5,134,873
14. Verizon (excluding Verizon Wireless): $3,760,000
21. National Cable and Telecommunications Association: $3,370,000
23. Comcast Corporation: $2,760,000
68. Motorola, Inc: $1,470,000

Automotive
22. General Motors: $2,800,000
27. United Services Automobile Association: $2,590,244
52. Ford Motor Company: $1,750,000
84. Toyota Motor North America: $1,290,000
86. Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers: $1,264,400

Financial
32. Financial Services Roundtable: $2,260,000
33. Prudential Financial, Inc: $2,180,000
41. American Bankers Association: $1,890,000
61. Visa, Inc: $1,540,000
74. Investment Company Institute: $1,359,917
75. Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association: $1,350,000
82. J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.: $1,310,000
90. Citigroup Management Corp: $1,250,000
90. Credit Union National Association: $1,250,000

Biotech
36. Monsanto: $2,094,000
40. Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO): $1,920,000
44. Bayer Corporation: $1,843,672

Railroads
24. Association of American Railroads: $2,759,545
54. Union Pacific Corporation: $1,717,108
71. BNSF Railway: $1,400,000

Life Insurance
42. American Council of Life Insurers: $1,867,075
44. New York Life Insurance Company: $1,840,000
64. State Farm Insurance: $1,500,000
93. The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company: $1,237,000

Other
1. Chamber of Commerce of the U.S.A.: $9,996,000
8. National Association of Realtors: $5,727,000
9. U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform: $5,480,000
13. AARP: $4,090,000
15. Southern Company: $3,650,000
17. Altria Client Services Inc: $3,580,000
25. Amgen, Inc: $2,750,000
26. National Association of Broadcasters: $2,600,000
29. Edison Electric Institute: $2,550,000
31. Fedex Corporation: $2,370,000
34. Textron, Inc.: $2,140,000
35. General Dynamics Corp: $2,101,945
38. International Business Machines (IBM): $2,030,000
43. United Technologies Corporation: $1,860,000
46. Recording Industry Association of America: $1,810,000
48. CTIA-The Wireless Association: $1,790,000
50. Time Warner Inc. $1,780,000
53. The Dow Chemical Company: $1,735,000
55. American Electric Power Company: $1,716,913
56. Microsoft Corporation: $1,650,000
57. Qualcomm, Incorporated: $1,620,000
58. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc: $1,600,000
59. L-3 Communications: $1,580,000
60. Exelon Business Services, LLC: $1,540,000
62. Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc: $1,530,000
66. Norfolk Southern Corporation: $1,485,026
67. Koch Companies Public Sector LLC: $1,480,000
70. American Airlines: $1,450,000
72. Oracle Corporation: $1,390,000
77. Air Transport Association of America, Inc.: $1,340,000
78. Disney Worldwide Services, Inc.: $1,330,000
79. Sepracor, Inc: $1,324,157
80. National Association of Home Builders: $1,320,000
81. UPS: $1,316,426
83. Siemens Corporation: $1,300,000
85. Duke Energy Corporation: $1,282,770
94. Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S., Inc: $1,230,000
95. Business Roundtable: $1,220,000
96. Wellpoint, Inc: $1,220,000
97. American Wind Energy Association: $1,212,504
98. F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: $1,206,427
99. National Rural Electric Cooperative Association: $1,200,000
99. CBS Corporation: $1,200,000

Corporate Purchase of Congress

Lu Powell wrote:

"HK" wrote in message
m...
From the Organic Consumers Association

A List of Corporate Lobbying by Jill Richardson

Out of curiosity I decided to see who was spending the most on
lobbying in America. And Oh My Goodness - NO WONDER our policy sucks.
No wonder it's nearly impossible to pass health care reform that
provides all Americans with affordable care, a global warming bill
that doesn't suck, and the Employee Free Choice Act. No wonder we're
in these two stupid wars. I know everyone's aware of the problems
lobbying poses to our country, but good lord, if people saw the sheer
magnitude of it (and the comparatively paltry amounts spent in the
people's interest) they would be outraged. So here goes. Here's the
list of the top 100 (ranked by amount spent on lobbying in Q109). Enjoy.

[snipped in the interest of good taste]

So when will you be copying and pasting lobbying money and donations by
unions and other liberal pacs?

Tell it all or don't tell it at all, Harry.

Otherwise, your bigotry shows.

As if I give a **** about what passes for a thought in your brain, Lu.

Corporate Purchase of Congress

"HK" wrote in message
...
Lu Powell wrote:

"HK" wrote in message
m...
From the Organic Consumers Association

A List of Corporate Lobbying by Jill Richardson

Out of curiosity I decided to see who was spending the most on lobbying
in America. And Oh My Goodness - NO WONDER our policy sucks. No wonder
it's nearly impossible to pass health care reform that provides all
Americans with affordable care, a global warming bill that doesn't suck,
and the Employee Free Choice Act. No wonder we're in these two stupid
wars. I know everyone's aware of the problems lobbying poses to our
country, but good lord, if people saw the sheer magnitude of it (and the
comparatively paltry amounts spent in the people's interest) they would
be outraged. So here goes. Here's the list of the top 100 (ranked by
amount spent on lobbying in Q109). Enjoy.

[snipped in the interest of good taste]

So when will you be copying and pasting lobbying money and donations by
unions and other liberal pacs?

Tell it all or don't tell it at all, Harry.

Otherwise, your bigotry shows.

As if I give a **** about what passes for a thought in your brain, Lu.

There you go again. Attack the messenger, which only gives credence to the
message.

Corporate Purchase of Congress

Lu Powell wrote:

"HK" wrote in message
...
Lu Powell wrote:

"HK" wrote in message
m...
From the Organic Consumers Association

A List of Corporate Lobbying by Jill Richardson

Out of curiosity I decided to see who was spending the most on
lobbying in America. And Oh My Goodness - NO WONDER our policy
sucks. No wonder it's nearly impossible to pass health care reform
that provides all Americans with affordable care, a global warming
bill that doesn't suck, and the Employee Free Choice Act. No wonder
we're in these two stupid wars. I know everyone's aware of the
problems lobbying poses to our country, but good lord, if people saw
the sheer magnitude of it (and the comparatively paltry amounts
spent in the people's interest) they would be outraged. So here
goes. Here's the list of the top 100 (ranked by amount spent on
lobbying in Q109). Enjoy.

[snipped in the interest of good taste]

So when will you be copying and pasting lobbying money and donations
by unions and other liberal pacs?

Tell it all or don't tell it at all, Harry.

Otherwise, your bigotry shows.

As if I give a **** about what passes for a thought in your brain, Lu.

There you go again. Attack the messenger, which only gives credence to
the message.

I'm sure you've convinced yourself of that, Lu. It's a common character
flaw of right-wingnuts. You don't have a message.

Corporate Purchase of Congress

"HK" wrote in message
...
Lu Powell wrote:

"HK" wrote in message
...
Lu Powell wrote:

"HK" wrote in message
m...
From the Organic Consumers Association

A List of Corporate Lobbying by Jill Richardson

Out of curiosity I decided to see who was spending the most on
lobbying in America. And Oh My Goodness - NO WONDER our policy sucks.
No wonder it's nearly impossible to pass health care reform that
provides all Americans with affordable care, a global warming bill
that doesn't suck, and the Employee Free Choice Act. No wonder we're
in these two stupid wars. I know everyone's aware of the problems
lobbying poses to our country, but good lord, if people saw the sheer
magnitude of it (and the comparatively paltry amounts spent in the
people's interest) they would be outraged. So here goes. Here's the
list of the top 100 (ranked by amount spent on lobbying in Q109).
Enjoy.

[snipped in the interest of good taste]

So when will you be copying and pasting lobbying money and donations by
unions and other liberal pacs?

Tell it all or don't tell it at all, Harry.

Otherwise, your bigotry shows.

As if I give a **** about what passes for a thought in your brain, Lu.

There you go again. Attack the messenger, which only gives credence to
the message.

I'm sure you've convinced yourself of that, Lu. It's a common character
flaw of right-wingnuts. You don't have a message.

You keep proving my point, over and over, and over, ad nauseum.

Corporate Purchase of Congress

"HK" wrote in message
m...
From the Organic Consumers Association

A List of Corporate Lobbying by Jill Richardson

Out of curiosity I decided to see who was spending the most on lobbying in
America. And Oh My Goodness - NO WONDER our policy sucks. No wonder it's
nearly impossible to pass health care reform that provides all Americans
with affordable care, a global warming bill that doesn't suck, and the
Employee Free Choice Act. No wonder we're in these two stupid wars. I know
everyone's aware of the problems lobbying poses to our country, but good
lord, if people saw the sheer magnitude of it (and the comparatively
paltry amounts spent in the people's interest) they would be outraged. So
here goes. Here's the list of the top 100 (ranked by amount spent on
lobbying in Q109). Enjoy.

I pulled up all of the reports for first quarter 2009 but over 20,000
items came up (and the report only shows the first 3000). OK, try again -
all reports for over $1 million for first quarter 2009. This time a little
over 100 came up (including AIG, who spent $1,250,000 on lobbying during
that period).

So here's how to read this list: These are the amounts spent by the
corporations listed. However, many (if not most) of these corporations
ALSO contract out to private lobbying firms, so the amounts you see here
MIGHT not be the total amount they spent on lobbying in Q109. For example,
Monsanto spent $2,094,000 for its in house lobbying but then contracted
out to Arent Fox LLP; Lesher, Russell & Barron, Inc. ($60,000); Ogilvy
Government Relations ($60,000); Parven Pomper Strategies ($40,000); Sidley
Austin LLP; TCH Group, LLC ($50,000); The Nickles Group, LLC ($63,000);
The Washington Tax Group, LLC ($40,000); and Troutman Sanders Public
Affairs Group ($30,000) - for a total of $2,437,000 in first quarter 2009.

Health Care, Health Insurance, & Pharma
3. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America: $6,910,000
6. Pfizer, Inc: $6,140,000
12. American Medical Association: $4,240,000
18. American Hospital Association: $3,580,000
19. Eli Lilly and Company: $3,440,000
37. America's Health Insurance Plans, Inc: $2,030,000
39. CVS Caremark Inc: $2,005,000
47. Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association: $1,800,000
49. GlaxoSmithKline: $1,780,000
63. Merck & Co: $1,500,000
65. United Health Group, Inc: $1,500,000
69. Sanofi-Aventis U.S. Inc: $1,460,000
76. Novartis: $1,347,134
87. Abbott Laboratories: $1,260,000
89. Astrazeneca Pharmaceuticals, LP: $1,250,000
92. Medtronic, Inc: $1,238,000

Oil
2. Exxon Mobil: $9,320,000
4. Chevron U.S.A. Inc: $6,800,000
7. Conoco Phillips: $5,980,935
16. BP America, Inc: $3,610,000
20. Marathon Oil Corporation: $3,380,000
45. American Petroleum Institute: $1,810,000

Defense
5. Lockheed Martin Corporation: $6,380,000
11. General Electric Company: $4,540,000
28. Northrop Grumman Corporation: $2,570,000
30. Boeing Company: $2,410,00
51. Honeywell International: $1,760,000
73. Raytheon Company: $1,360,000

Telecoms
10. AT&T Services, Inc: $5,134,873
14. Verizon (excluding Verizon Wireless): $3,760,000
21. National Cable and Telecommunications Association: $3,370,000
23. Comcast Corporation: $2,760,000
68. Motorola, Inc: $1,470,000

Automotive
22. General Motors: $2,800,000
27. United Services Automobile Association: $2,590,244
52. Ford Motor Company: $1,750,000
84. Toyota Motor North America: $1,290,000
86. Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers: $1,264,400

Financial
32. Financial Services Roundtable: $2,260,000
33. Prudential Financial, Inc: $2,180,000
41. American Bankers Association: $1,890,000
61. Visa, Inc: $1,540,000
74. Investment Company Institute: $1,359,917
75. Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association: $1,350,000
82. J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.: $1,310,000
90. Citigroup Management Corp: $1,250,000
90. Credit Union National Association: $1,250,000

Biotech
36. Monsanto: $2,094,000
40. Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO): $1,920,000
44. Bayer Corporation: $1,843,672

Railroads
24. Association of American Railroads: $2,759,545
54. Union Pacific Corporation: $1,717,108
71. BNSF Railway: $1,400,000

Life Insurance
42. American Council of Life Insurers: $1,867,075
44. New York Life Insurance Company: $1,840,000
64. State Farm Insurance: $1,500,000
93. The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company: $1,237,000

Other
1. Chamber of Commerce of the U.S.A.: $9,996,000
8. National Association of Realtors: $5,727,000
9. U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform: $5,480,000
13. AARP: $4,090,000
15. Southern Company: $3,650,000
17. Altria Client Services Inc: $3,580,000
25. Amgen, Inc: $2,750,000
26. National Association of Broadcasters: $2,600,000
29. Edison Electric Institute: $2,550,000
31. Fedex Corporation: $2,370,000
34. Textron, Inc.: $2,140,000
35. General Dynamics Corp: $2,101,945
38. International Business Machines (IBM): $2,030,000
43. United Technologies Corporation: $1,860,000
46. Recording Industry Association of America: $1,810,000
48. CTIA-The Wireless Association: $1,790,000
50. Time Warner Inc. $1,780,000
53. The Dow Chemical Company: $1,735,000
55. American Electric Power Company: $1,716,913
56. Microsoft Corporation: $1,650,000
57. Qualcomm, Incorporated: $1,620,000
58. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc: $1,600,000
59. L-3 Communications: $1,580,000
60. Exelon Business Services, LLC: $1,540,000
62. Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc: $1,530,000
66. Norfolk Southern Corporation: $1,485,026
67. Koch Companies Public Sector LLC: $1,480,000
70. American Airlines: $1,450,000
72. Oracle Corporation: $1,390,000
77. Air Transport Association of America, Inc.: $1,340,000
78. Disney Worldwide Services, Inc.: $1,330,000
79. Sepracor, Inc: $1,324,157
80. National Association of Home Builders: $1,320,000
81. UPS: $1,316,426
83. Siemens Corporation: $1,300,000
85. Duke Energy Corporation: $1,282,770
94. Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S., Inc: $1,230,000
95. Business Roundtable: $1,220,000
96. Wellpoint, Inc: $1,220,000
97. American Wind Energy Association: $1,212,504
98. F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: $1,206,427
99. National Rural Electric Cooperative Association: $1,200,000
99. CBS Corporation: $1,200,000

a.. In the 2008 presidential race, the labor sector spent at least $45.3
million on independent expenditures and communications costs toward getting
President Obama elected and $6.6 million to defeat his opponent, Sen. John
McCain (R-Ariz.). Individuals working for pro-business groups gave Obama
just $23,700 for his presidential bid, one-twentieth of what union employees
gave the president.

How much lobby money did the UAW spend on getting sweetheart deal on GM?