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Article: Lobbyists Feel the Pinch As Downturn Hits K Street
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- September 6, 2009
- Author:
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In a year when Washington's influence industry should be
thriving, with epic battles over health-care and energy legislation,
lobbying in many sectors is in marked decline as defense
contractors, real estate firms and other companies pull back in a
down economy.
Overall spending on lobbying has leveled off for the first time
in a decade, according to disclosure data filed with Congress.
Lobbying revenue for many of the city's most powerful advocacy
firms, including bellwethers such as Patton Boggs and Akin Gump
Strauss Hauer & Feld, plunged 10 percent or more in the first half
of the year.
Washington also has 2,200 fewer registered lobbyists than it did
a year ago, the lowest tally since ...