Google spends the most on lobbying
 

According to figures just in, the search engine Google is spending the most on scmoozing US politicans.

Consumer Watchdog added up the efforts of tech-companies to lobby politicans and used data from disclosure forms filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Google actually cut its spending on lobbyists, but still spent $3.4 million during the third quarter. This is nearly three times what Facebook spent during the same period.

Google outpaced Verizon which spent $3.04 million, Verizon Wireless, $1.2 million and AT&T, $4.3 million.

Facebook's spending on lobbying rose 47 percent between 2012 and 2013, from $980,000 during the third quarter of 2012 to 1.4 million during 2013.

Microsoft also boosted its spending by 20 percent, from $1.9 million in 2012 to $2.2 million during the third quarter of this year.

Another group which has decided that it needs to grease a few palms is Apple whose lobbying efforts shot up 111 percent between the third quarter of 2012 and 2013. However it did not spend that much something like $970,000 this year. Cisco Systems spent $890,000, IBM $1.18 million, Intel $980,000 and Oracle spent $1.36 million.

Google is not the biggest buyer of political influence. The US Chamber of Commerce has spent $35.9 million so far and the National Association of Realtors who wrote a cheque for $17.7 million.

http://news.techeye.net/business/goo...st-on-lobbying