Auto Industry Spent Record $70.3 Million Lobbying Congress In 2007 - Detroit News

[hatrack]

WASHINGTON -- The automotive industry spent a record $70.3 million lobbying Congress in 2007, a figure largely driven by efforts to influence changes in the fuel economy standards of the nation's cars and trucks, according to a new report by the Washington-based Center for Responsive Politics.

That amount was up 19.6 percent from the $58.8 million the industry spent in 2006, according to the report. The industry is expecting to spend the same or less in 2008 because it's an election year and their focus will be on proposed regulatory changes.

The nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics said businesses, labor unions, governments and other interests spent a record $2.79 billion to lobby Washington in 2007, up 7.7 percent or $200 million in spending the year before. "At a time when our economy is contracting, Washington's lobbying industry has been expanding," said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the group. "Lobbying seems to be a recession-proof industry. In some respects, interests seek even more from our government when the economy slows."

General Motors Corp. led the industry in spending in 2007, chalking up $14.3 million. Ford Motor Co. spent $7.2 million. Toyota Motor Corp. followed with $5.9 million.

EDIT

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080501/AUTO01/805010347

[Greyskye]

1. Damn.

How much of that $70,300,000 could have been spent on high-mileage R&D? "Oh, R&D is so expensive!" :sarcasm:

Assholes. :banghead:

[FREEWILL56]

2. That's quite a bit of bribery money.

The crime of bribery is legalized when it comes to our congress and renamed lobbying. Just think now because this is only of the car industry mentioned here as there are many others including the big oil industry.

[shain from kane]

3. Thank God for the Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act, or it would have been more.

In the first two weeks of the 110th Congress, Senator Obama helped lead the Senate to pass the Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act, a comprehensive ethics and lobbying reform bill, by a 96-2 vote. This landmark bill was signed into law by the President in September 2007.

[depakid]

4. Short sighed self-destructive behavior from Detroit

It's impressive how these folks never learn....

[Preston120]

5. Hey, They got the best Congress money could buy!