The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reported $9.996 million in lobbying expenditures in the first quarter, more than any other organization. The Chamber scored two big lobbyong successes in early 2009: the passage of President Obama's $782 billion stimulus bill and the defeat of the Employee Free-Choice Act, also known as the card-check measure.
Among trade groups (not counting individual companies) second place goes to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), which spent $6.91 million and succeeded in passing the State Children's Health Insurance Plan into law, and has pushed to expand Medicaid and limit cost-saving measures government might seek in government-run health programs. PhRMA, which represents name-brand drug makers, also lobbied heavily on the issue of generic biological drugs.
The third most active lobbying group at $5.727 million was the National Association of Realtors, which won a major coup with an $8,000 homebuyer credit in Obama's stimulus bill, and has lobbied for more help for homeowners.
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