Google spends most on lobbying, $16.66 million
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Google's closest rival for spending the most money to influence federal insitutions was Comcast.
Google's closest rival for spending the most money to influence federal laws and regulations in the group of 16 companies was Comcast, which reported spending $15.63 million, the records show.
Google spent $16.66 million on lobbying in 2015 compared with $16.83 million in 2014, a 1 percent decrease. Google's fourth quarter lobbying expenditure was $3.29 million a 10 percent decrease from $3.78 million in 2014. The lobbying disclosure reports are still being filed in Google's name, not that of the newly created holding company, Alphabet.
Microsoft, Google's archrival, which used to regularly outspend the internet giant, spent roughly half of what Google spent. Microsoft reported spending $8.49 million, a 2 percent increase from $8.33 million spent on 2014 lobbying. Fourth quarter lobbing expenses were $2.47 million compared to $2.25 million, a 9.1 percent increase from 2014.
Facebook, which has substantially increased its Washington presence over the last four years, posted another company record in its effort to influence policymakers. Spending increased 5.5 percent to $9.85 million from $9.34 million in 2014. Fourth quarter spending was $2.13 million compared to $1.99 million in 2014, an increase of 7 percent.
Amazon also posted a company record its disclosure forms show. Amazon's reported lobbying expenditures soared 91.4 percent to $9.07 million compared to $4.74 million in 2014. Fourth quarter spending was $2.99 million vs. $1.67 million, an increase of 79 percent.
Apple, too, is increasing its Washington activities. It spent $4.48 million in 2015 compared to $4.11 million in 2014, a record and a 9 percent increase from 2014. Fourth quarter spending was $1.03 million vs. $1.19 million, a 13.4 percent decrease. ■