Although federal lobbying expenditures increased in the fourth quarter of 2013, it was not enough to make the full year total as high as 2012. The full year 2013 lobbying expenditures were $3.25 billion, down from $3.34 billion in 2012. Lobbying in the Health Care sector remained the largest area of interest, while some industry sectors did show increases from the previous year. Companies and trade associations lobbying on the farm bill pushed the totals for the Agriculture sector higher, and those lobbying on Communication/Technology issues also increased. The top lobbying sectors in CY2013 were: Health Care $549 million, down from $555 million in 2012. Finance/Insurance $415 million, down from $428 million. Communication /Technology $381 million, up from $372 million. Energy/Natural Resources $327 million, down from $353 million Business- Retail/Services $250 million, down from $321 million. Transportation $228 million, down from $239 million. Manufacturing $150 million, down from $152 million. Agriculture $148 million, up from $134 million. Defense $132 million, down from $134 million. Single Issue Groups $127 million, up from 99 million. In the fourth quarter of 2013, lobbying expenditures increased to $826 million from $788 million the third quarter. An increase from the third to the fourth quarter is not unusual, due to high legislative activity in the first quarter, and again after the summer and Labor Day breaks. (more…)
