OpenSecrets PolitiQuizz: Who’s Spending the Most on Lobbying?

commerce.jpgCompanies, unions and similar organizations spend billions of dollars each year to lobby on specific issues relevant to them. The Center for Responsive Politics tracks lobbying expenditures and lobbyists’ activity on a yearly and quarterly basis.

In the last decade, 2010 was the year that saw the most money spent on lobbying, when organizations spent a total of $3.52 billion. The least spent was $1.82 billion in 2002. Since 2010, there has been a slight decrease in the total amount spent each year, with 2012 currently so far registering below $2.5 billion (although reports are only in for three-quarters of the year).

Although many of the top spending lobbying clients vary throughout the years, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce consistently remains at the top of the list and already has spent $95.7 million this year — about $70 million more than the next top spender.

There is, however, one corporation now listed among the top five spenders in 2012 that had not been listed among the Center’s top 20 list in previous years. Lobbying in two industries, this group’s spending has increased from about $9.7 million in 2011 to $14.4 million so far in 2012. Our question for this week’s Politiquizz:



Last week we asked:

Prior to the 2012 election cycle, which cycle in the last 20 years has the largest increase in outside spending compared to the previous elections? Additionally, what are the differences between that cycle and the previous midterm election as well as that cycle and the previous presidential election?

When considering all outside groups, the correct answer is the 2004 election cycle, when outside groups spent $387 million more than they had in the 2000 cycle and $404 million more than in the 2002 midterm election. When excluding party committees, the largest difference in a two-year period is the $227 million jump between the 2006 and 2008 elections, and the largest difference in a presidential election is the $149 million increase from 2000 to 2004. 

Congratulations to KW for responding with a correct answer. Please email us at so we can send you the spoils.