The 20 lobbying groups that spent the most money to get their voice heard in Washington last year

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The 20 lobbying groups that spent the most money to get their voice heard in Washington last year

Washington, UNITED STATES: A sign showing K Street is shown 01 February 2006 in Washington,DC. A stone's throw from the White House, K Street is an alternative corridor of power in US politics, packed with thick carpeted offices and lobbyists with even deeper pockets.But the largesse that flowed from Jack Abramoff, an influential member of the K Street lobbying army, threatens now to rebound against the whole sector. Both opposition Democrats, and President George W. Bush's majority Republicans, who face the most serious charges from the Abramoff scandal, are making proposals to clamp down on lobbyists.There are an estimated 30,000 lobbyists working in Washington, mainly lawyers, working for groups ranging from big business contract hunters to turkey hunters who feel their pastime is under threat.For example, Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and and Felt, a Texan firm, has about 100 lawyers in Washington who represent some 200 pressure groups and associations, making sure that lawmakers are aware of their concerns. AFP PHOTO/KAREN BLEIER (Photo credit should read KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images)

KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images

K Street NW in Washington, DC, where many lobbying firms are based.

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  • Corporations and trade organizations spend tens of millions of dollars every year to influence public policy.
  • The top companies and groups spend large sums of money to push their policy objectives to their own benefit.
  • Here are the 20 lobbying groups that spent the most in Washington, DC in 2018.

Corporations, organizations, and groups looking to influence public policy one way or another shell out large sums of money to lobbying firms every year.

In 2018, it was no different. According to data from OpenSecrets, a watchdog website that tracks money in politics, here are the biggest spenders on lobbying in 2018.

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Southern Company

Southern Company

Southern Company, which focuses on American gas and electric utilities, spent $12,300,000 in 2018.

Facebook

Facebook

Amid several scandals and public relations fiascos, Facebook spent $12,620,000 on lobbying in 2018.

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Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin

Defense giant Lockheed Martin spent $13,205,502 in 2018.

NCTA: The Internet & Television Association

NCTA: The Internet & Television Association

In 2018, the Internet & Television Association spent $13,240,000. They are a trade association focused primarily on broadband and television.

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Bayer AG

Bayer AG

Bayer AG, a German pharmaceutical company, spent $13,430,000 on lobbying in 2018.

National Association of Broadcasters

National Association of Broadcasters

The National Association of Broadcasters spent $14,170,000 in 2018.

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Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman

Defense contractor Northrop Grumman spent $14,303,000 on lobbying efforts in 2018.

Amazon

Amazon

Amazon, which announced their intent to build two new headquarters in Virginia and New York in 2018, spent $14,400,000 on lobbying. They ultimately pulled out of building a new facility in New York.

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Comcast

Comcast

Comcast spent $15,072,000 in 2018 on lobbying efforts.

Boeing

Boeing

Boeing, the largest airliner manufacturer in the world, spent $15,120,000 on lobbying in 2018.

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AT&T

AT&T

Telecommunications giant AT&T spent $18,529,000 on lobbying in 2018.

American Medical Association

American Medical Association

The American Medical Association, which is the largest trade associations for physicians, spent $20,417,000 on lobbying in 2018.

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Alphabet Inc

Alphabet Inc

Alphabet, which is the parent company of Google, spent $21,740,000 on lobbying in 2018.

Business Roundtable

Business Roundtable

Business Roundtable is a group of CEOs who push for public policy backing their interests. They spent $23,160,000 in 2018.

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Blue Cross Blue Shied

Blue Cross Blue Shied

One of the biggest United States health insurance giants spent $23,604,221 on lobbying in 2018.

American Hospital Association

American Hospital Association

The Chicago-based American Hospital Association spent $23,927,842 on lobbying efforts.

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Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America

Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America

The Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America is a trade association for drug manufacturers. They spent $27,989,250 on lobbying in 2018.

Open Society Policy Center

Open Society Policy Center

The Open Society Policy Center, a human rights organization founded by billionaire philanthropist George Soros that seeks to influence US policy, spent $31,520,000 in 2018.

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National Association of Realtors

National Association of Realtors

The National Association of Realtors spent $72,808,648 on lobbying in 2018.

US Chamber of Commerce

US Chamber of Commerce

The US Chamber of Commerce spent a whopping $94,800,000 on lobbying in 2018. The group is the largest spender in 2018, focusing on pushing business-oriented public policy.

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