Lobbyists Feel the Pinch As Downturn Hits K Street

The Washington Post reports:

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 shortly after George W. Bush took office in January 2001.

The economy is the primary reason for the slump, according to many lobbyists and public-interest experts. Companies tied to home building, defense, transportation, agriculture and other struggling sectors have pared back on lobbying expenses this year, sometimes dramatically so, according to data analyzed by the Center for Responsive Politics at the request of The Washington Post.

An interesting article.