GM spent $4.1 million lobbying in first quarter

[doh]

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080627/gener...ying.html?.v=1

General Motors spent nearly $4.1 million in first quarter to lobby on safety, other issues


WASHINGTON (AP) -- General Motors Corp. spent nearly $4.1 million lobbying in the first quarter on an array of issues affecting the automobile industry, according to a recent disclosure report.
The Detroit automaker lobbied on legislation or regulations related to climate change and energy, highway funding, trucking, taxes, trade, hydrogen fuel safety, child passenger safety, air bag and brake systems, and motor vehicle recalls, according to the report filed April 18 with the House clerk's office.

Shares of GM earlier this week plunged to their lowest price in more than 33 years as analysts continued to speculate about just how bad things will get for domestic automakers. Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner told reporters Thursday that the automaker has adjusted to consumer demand for cars and crossovers instead of trucks and sport utility vehicles, and that GM has ample liquidity.

[Vittorio]

These are some difficult times for the auto industry (understatement)

GM has got to pull ahead, and it seems to be on the right track. I hope this lobbying will pay off.

[stormwatcher]

Why the government introduced the new CAFE rules is beyond me. Higher oil prices will do it on their own but the increased regulations are a penalty GM does not need at present.

[Hitman1970]

Lobbying is part of the corporate game. It is not going away. Nothing to see here; move along to your backroom deals and tee-times.

God Bless America.

[TheGeneral]

haha gm got screwe#. Oil prices are high and congress won't help GM out all. Instead they threw GM the new and improved cafe.

[63GrandSport001]

I think its funny because when an individual gets into trouble the American people feel that they should get no help at all infact they want to go out their way just not to help them. They would want to take away that persons rights just because they screwed up however when a major company is in trouble the American people think that its due to a lack of patriotism on the buying public and governments part..........

[steverino]

Originally Posted by TheGeneral

haha gm got screwe#. Oil prices are high and congress won't help GM out all. Instead they threw GM the new and improved cafe.

No kidding, what a waste of money. Has the auto industry gotten any kind of a regulatory break in the past few years, I think not.

Notice when a politico gets voted out of office he becomes a Lobbyist. It's legalized theft or the equivalent of winning the lottery without even buying a ticket

[TheGeneral]

Completely poltical statement. But what has congress done for anyone lately?

[Hitman1970]

I read a both sad and hilarious report today that Congress would have to work, gasp, five day work weeks in July to get the legislation passed before the break. Poor babys.

[LAMRONH]

Originally Posted by Hitman1970

I read a both sad and hilarious report today that Congress would have to work, gasp, five day work weeks in July to get the legislation passed before the break. Poor babys.

I'd feel better if they worked zero days per week. We're safer that way.

[fp115]

If only the US government would help GM as much as the Japanese government helped Toyota...

[mjd1001]

I know GM is having financial difficulty...but really...4.1 million seems like hardly anything for a company the size of GM. I picture large US companies possibly spending 40, 50 million dollars a year or more lobbying congress for what they want.

[steverino]

Originally Posted by mjd1001

I know GM is having financial difficulty...but really...4.1 million seems like hardly anything for a company the size of GM. I picture large US companies possibly spending 40, 50 million dollars a year or more lobbying congress for what they want.

So, I guess you get what you pay for

[osv_alero]

I thought toyota spent more than that last year on lobbying in the US.

[yamahr1]

Originally Posted by mjd1001

I know GM is having financial difficulty...but really...4.1 million seems like hardly anything for a company the size of GM. I picture large US companies possibly spending 40, 50 million dollars a year or more lobbying congress for what they want.

That was my reaction, too. About $16M a year is a pretty light effort. I think maybe GM is as fed up with the federal government as most of the rest of us, as far as looking out for the best interests of America as a whole. If past lobbying efforts haven't paid off, why send good money after bad?