Despite Tough Times, Big 3 Spend $21.6M On Efforts To Sway Congress.

Detroit's Big Three automakers have spent more than $21.6 million lobbying Congress this year despite coping with a financial crisis that has forced them to slash jobs, cut benefits and plead for a $25 billion federal bailout, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Despite the worst sales slump in 25 years and fears one or more of the automakers could file for bankruptcy soon, the Big Three are maintaining a pricey expense in hopes of influencing federal policy and securing emergency government aid.

 

woood - 11/24/2008 11:36:52 AM

+3 Boost

Let these three go down and let the US Gov take them over and force the change that is needed in these companies to stay competitive. We all already know what those changes would have to be.

theoptimisticpessimist - 11/24/2008 3:29:05 PM

+1 Boost

Lobbying is the nature of the game in Washington. Money = access = power.

volnedan - 11/24/2008 4:01:22 PM

+2 Boost

Yet Citi walks right in with their pockets out and the goverment hands them $126 billion no questions asked. I'd like to see them berate the CEO if he flew private, commercial, or took a train from NYC to Washington. Give me a break, bunch of hypocritical kooks in Congress make me sick.