Drugmakers, insurance indusry lead pack as lobbying hits nearly $2.8B in 2007, group says

2007 was a good year for lobbying reform, but an even better one for lobbying expenditures.

The same year that saw the Honest Leadership and Open Government passed with much fanfare also saw a record level of money, $2.79 billion, being spent by corporations, trade groups, labor unions, governments, according to a watchdog group.

The spending represents a 7.7 percent — or $200 million — increase from the level in 2006, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which has tracked such expenses since 1998.

"Lobbying seems to be a recession-proof industry," the group's executive director, Sheila Krumholz, said in a press release, referring to the spending growth in a sagging economy. "In some respects, interests seek even more from our government when the economy slows."

Among industries, the drugmakers, such as Amgen Inc. and Pfizer Inc., and health products companies, such as Johnson & Johnson and Boston Scientific Corp., spent $227 million collectively last year.

Ranked second was the insurance industry, including Allstate Corp. and others, which forked out $138 million, followed by electric utilities, such as Southern Co. and others, which spent $113 million. Rounding out the top five industries were the computer and Internet industry, which laid out nearly $111 million, and hospitals and nursing homes, which spent almost $91 million.

Among specific companies and trade groups, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce topped the list, spending almost $53 million last year, while General Electric Co. spent about $24 million and the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America injected nearly $23 million.

Patton Boggs LLP, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP and Van Scoyoc Associates were the top three earners among lobbying firms last year. Patton reported revenue of $42 million, lobbying for clients such as chocolate company Mars Inc. and private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management.

Lobbyists were required to report spending twice for last year. However, this year lobbying firms, companies and others will have to file quarterly. The deadline for spending in the first quarter is April 21.