More evidence that the US government is in the pocket of the big corporations.The US economy is in dire straits as corporations cut spending and jobs. Unemployment is not going down, and banks aren't lending money. But one industry is booming: lobbying.
According to the non-profit research group, the Center for Responsive Politics, 2009 was a bonanza year for Washington lobbyists. With Obama trying push through health reforms, pull the banks into line and introduce climate change legislation, clients paid lobbyists an eye-popping $3.47 billion last year, significantly up on the record $3.3 billion they were paid the previous year.
One thing for sure. Lobbying is definitely recession proof with corporations spending huge money to stop measures aimed at fixing America's sick health system and control the rampant greed of its financial sector. Companies and groups sending in the lobbyists included ExxonMobil ($27.43 million), the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America ($26.15 million), General Electric ($25.52 million) and Pfizer ($24.6 million).
According to this data, more than $1 billion was spent lobbying on health and financial services. These were the big two, followed by energy and natural resources.
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