Google Leads Among Consumer Tech Companies Lobbying Congress 65
Nerval's Lobster writes "Google is still the tech company that spends most lavishly to make its influence known in Washington, D.C., according to a report analyzing the lobbying activity of technology firms. Using data from disclosure forms filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives, the oversight group Consumer Watchdog added up the efforts of tech-company representatives to get in front of lawmakers and state their employers' case. 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. Google cut its spending on lobbyists, but still spent $3.4 million during the third quarter – three times what Facebook spent during the same quarter. Apple's lobbying efforts shot up 111 percent between the third quarter of 2012 and 2013, but still amounted to only $970,000 this year. Cisco Systems spent $890,000; IBM spent $1.18 million; Intel spent $980,000 and Oracle spent $1.36 million. Though telecommunications firms are in a separate category, Google still outspent Verizon (down 2 percent, to $3.04 million) and Verizon Wireless (up 19 percent, to $1.2 million). It was trumped by AT&T (up 23 percent, to $4.3 million)."
Bribes (Score:4, Insightful)
And I thought bribes were illegal.
lobbying is bullshit (Score:5, Insightful)
Lobbying should be outlawed, because it's doesn't fairly represent the people. Laws shouldn't be introduced or passed because a lot of money is throw at the law makers.
Problem is, if Google doesn't spend the money, then the other companies that are spending the money are going to be heard, not Google.
Bullshit system that needs to be outlawed.
The Waters Are Muddy (Score:4, Insightful)
While I agree with you, I can't blame these mega-corporations. Lawmakers have a tendency to pass laws that would crush private industries unless they intervened. My guess is that most of this money isn't spent trying to push some agenda, they're simply trying to protect their business from meddlesome lawmakers.
We'll need a government that doesn't screw with the private industry before the private industry agrees to stop screwing with the government.
Re:lobbying is bullshit (Score:5, Insightful)
Lobbying should be outlawed, because it's doesn't fairly represent the people. Laws shouldn't be introduced or passed because a lot of money is throw at the law makers.
Problem is, if Google doesn't spend the money, then the other companies that are spending the money are going to be heard, not Google.
Bullshit system that needs to be outlawed.
Then you need to have a Constitution adjustment, since it is more properly called a redress of grievances. What we as citizens need to do is hold those elected responsible for just how they address the redress.
Re:I wonder... (Score:4, Insightful)
Wow.... Googles lobbying even reach here
Google is vulnerable to legislation ... (Score:5, Insightful)
Which explains why, in the 1950's and 60's for example, when spending on lobbyists was a fraction of what it is today, the economy was destroyed by laws that crushed private industries. Or was it one of the biggest growth period in our country's history? I forget. Screw it - ideological assumptions trump facts.
Those companies that you referred to generally made money by manufacturing products and selling them for a profit. That is not what Google does. It sells its hardware products at around cost (ex Nexus). It gives away its software (ex Android). It makes money off of services, in particular targeted advertising based on its monitoring of users (Search, Gmail, etc).
Google's business is **highly** vulnerable to potential legislation. Public sentiment is running a bit high against corporate (and gov't) "snooping" on individuals. Any restrictions on how a company can monitor or collect information on consumers could be quite harmful to Google's revenue. It makes great business sense to be in DC to head off or steer such "privacy" legislation in a manner that preserves Google's ability to monitor users.
Re:lobbying is bullshit (Score:3, Insightful)
It's like lawyers: there are bad corrupt ones AND good ones who are necessary. The bad ones give them all a bad name, but they are critical. Not all are the high-powered meet and schmooze and blackmail and funnel bribery to corrupt politicians. With formal lobbyists it can be regulated, bad lobbyists could theoretically be jailed or banned. And most important, there should be a record, it should all be out in the open. Obviously, that's a lofty goal that is ignored when it shouldn't be.
At the very least, realize that money has always ALWAYS found influence in government, in every government, in every system tried. You can't stop it with a simple law like "no lobbyists." You can only make sure its out in the open and potentially corruption can be identified and rooted out with the ballot box or impeachment.