Chamber of Commerce of the U.S..

We will be listing the top spending organizations, companies and associations. In the fourth quarter of 2012 the Chamber of Commerce of the U.S. was the top spender at $29.5 million, and its Institute for Legal Reform spending $10.9 million. The National Assn. of Realtors spent $15.4 million. See Lobby Money By Report and top rankings.

We will also list the charts of the top lobby firms. In the fourth quarter of 2012, the largest firm reporting federal lobbying receipts was Patton Boggs LLP. They received $8,375,000 from 228 clients. See Top Lobbying Entities. Many lobby firms have a particular focus or area of interest and line up multiple clients in that same area. In some cases the clients have coordinated their efforts, in other cases, clients may not know the other clients paying for work on the same topic.

For example, the lobby firm East End Group likes the healthcare area and has already reported 2013 first quarter receipts from multiple clients in that area. Amgen Inc. paid $60,000; GlaxcoSmithKline paid $60,000; Biotechnology Industry Organization paid $51,000; AstraZeneca paid $45,000; Pfenex Inc. paid $45,000; Merck & Co. Inc. paid $45,000; Bavarian Nordic Inc. paid $45,000; Achagen Inc. paid $45,000; Alere Inc. paid $45,000; EMD Serono Inc. paid $30,000.

Markley and Company has a focus on Alaskan energy clients. In the first quarter of 2012 Alaska Electric Light & Power paid them $40,000; Alaska Power paid $40,000; Alaska Village Electric Company paid $30,000; Kotzebue Electric Assn. paid $10,000; the City & Borough of Sitka paid less than $5,000; the City of Hoonah paid $less than $5,000..