The nation’s 10 biggest spenders on K Street opened their wallets wider during the first half of the year, as the midterm election campaigns cast a shadow on Congress’ agenda and lobbyists prepare for a possible divided government.
The biggest players in federal lobbying — including Facebook’s parent company Meta, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the drug industry’s main group — reported shelling out $143.2 million, an increase from the $126.2 million in the first six months of last year, according to recently filed disclosures.
Debate over Democrats’ sweeping, but stalled, reconciliation bill fueled the work, along with government spending measures and bipartisan deals on legislation aimed at spurring innovation, lobbyists said. Even as they juggle current legislative wrangling, many on K Street already are turning their attention to what may come after the fall elections, preparing for divided government with Republicans favored to win control of the House.
