Posted on 07/26/2017 10:14:39 AM PDT by Lorianne
The number of federally registered political lobbyists has fallen by 14 percent thus far in 2017 from the 2016 total. However, based on data provided by the non-partisan OpenSecrets.org, spending by lobbyists is on track to rise by about 3 percent in 2017.
Mark Twain famously wrote: “We have the best government that money can buy.” That seemed to be the case in the Obama presidency, as registered lobbyists set an all-time spending record for any president of $26.7 billion, averaging over $3.3 billion a year.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has led the lobbying charge for globalization, was the top spender in 2016, and is again the top spender so far in 2017.
The National Association of Realtors was the runner-up in lobbying, spending $64,821,111 in 2016. The next four highest spenders, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield; American Hospital Association; Pharmaceutical Industry; and the American Medical Association each spent an average of about $22 million on lobbying in 2016.
No industry ramped up lobbying faster during the eight years of Obama than the Internet companies. From spending $14,858,398 on lobbying in the last year of President George W. Bush’s administration in 2008, Internet company lobbying expense quadrupled to $58,246,641 in 2016.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
More winning. No wonder the RINO’s are pissed at Trump.
Trump effect. Move congressional sessions around the country like the NFL does with the draft. 3 days, 2-3 cities. Take it to the people.
The swamp is draining.
Lobbyists are political belly fat.
Reducing the number of lobbyists is only half the battle.
Alexander, Corker, Flake, Gardner, Graham, Hatch, Heller, Hoeven, Murkowsky, McCain, Rubio, Burr, Tillis, Portman, McConnell, Thune, Cornyn, Cochran, Isackson, Blunt, Johnson, Toomey, Capito, Rounds, Fischer, Collins, Wicker, Sasse are all Democrats in R jerseys.
WE have to drain the swamp by not electing weasels who betray us.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has led the lobbying charge for globalization, was the top spender in 2016, and is again the top spender so far in 2017.
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The Cheap Labor Express is not giving up.
14% is not enough.
No corporation should lobby - only individual voters should lobby.
MD is likely beyond help, but VA is still salvageable.
Good start.
Maybe we can give the rest of them jobs as target holders at military gun ranges.
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