Spending by lobbyists surged last fall as Congress was writing the tax bill that became law in December, according to new data released Monday. More than half of the lobbyists registered in Washington worked on tax issues last year, and lobbyists “played an outsized role in shaping the tax overhaul,” according to Reuters.
Here’s how much some of the biggest lobbyists spent overall:
- The Business Roundtable spent $17.35 million in the fourth quarter, up from $4.53 million in the third quarter.
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent $16.83 million, up from $13.12 million.
- The National Association of Manufacturers spent $2.4 million, up from $1.3 million.
And lobbying lawmakers directly in D.C. is only part of the story. According to Reuters, “The Business Roundtable and the Chamber of Commerce also spent millions of dollars on television and radio ads in congressional districts across the country urging voters to pressure their representatives to support the tax bill.”
