Lobbies rack up $800M tab

http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/231104-lobbies-rack-up-800m-tab

Lobbies rack up $800M tab
By Megan R. Wilson - 01/29/15 06:00 AM EST

Leading trade groups and corporate offices spent almost $800 million lobbying the White House and Congress last year, a 10 percent increase over 2013, disclosure records show.

Among the top 50 spenders, none matched the firepower of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Realtors, which spent $124.1 million and $55.1 million on their influence efforts, respectively.

But while many of Washington’s biggest advocacy shops spent big, some associations and companies opted to cut back in a midterm election year where Congress was often mired in gridlock. The Grocery Manufacturers Association, Philip Morris International, BP and Airlines for America all dropped off the list of top 50 spenders from 2013, according to disclosures compiled and provided to The Hill by the Center for Responsive Politics. Facebook, Coca-Cola, the National Association of Manufacturers and theater company National Amusements took their places.
(snip)

To rank in the top 50 lobbying spenders in Washington last year, a company or group had to spend $7.83 million.
(snip)