U.S. Chamber Spent $58 Million on Lobbying

Bara Vaida writes that despite the current economic turmoil, "the Center for Responsive Politics expects that spending on lobbying will be about $3.2 billion for all of 2008, up 13 percent from the $2.83 billion spent in 2007." This "projection is based on a just completed analysis of third quarter lobbying forms, which are required to be filed with Congress under the Lobbying Disclosure Act." According to the Center's analysis, "the top spending organization this year so far is the US Chamber of Commerce, which has spent $57.9 million on lobbying." The analysis also revealed that "the top contract was Altria Group, owner of cigarette maker Philip Morris, which has spent $3.66 million on lobbying so far this year." Notably, Altria is currently part of a lawsuit that will test the boundary between federal and state authority. In that case, plaintiffs argue that Altria committed fraud when it advertised cigarettes as light or low in tar. But, Altria contends that state claims are barred by federal cigarette labeling laws."