Mr. Microsoft goes to Washington

Update 1:50 p.m. PST: Added Microsoft's overall lobbying expense figures for the first half of 2007.

Here's a shocker: Microsoft lobbies Congress.

OK, so it's not. But it's interesting to keep tabs on how much the software maker is spending and who it's hired to do its bidding.

The Associated Press reported that Microsoft paid $160,000 last year to the firm Patton Boggs to lobby on "antitrust issues surrounding mergers and acquisitions in the technology sector." The bulk of that--$120,000--was spent in the second half of the year, the AP said, citing a disclosure form posted online by the Senate's records office.

Microsoft doesn't say how much it spends on its overall government affairs efforts, but I suspect that amount is just a drop in the bucket.

"We don't publicly address consultants that we might have on retainer," said Microsoft spokeswoman Ginny Terzano. "Like most companies with a base here in Washington D.C., we bring in outside consultants now and then on policy issues, including competitive issues."

Microsoft might need a few more of those consultants if Yahoo ever says yes to its marriage proposal.

Update: As I suspected, Microsoft spends a whole lot more than that on lobbying. For the first half of last year, Microsoft spent $4.78 million on lobbying activities, according to the report it filed with Congress. It's full-year 2007 report is not yet available.

[robwill53]

lobbying

slow news day Ina?

[t8]

$4.78, even I can afford that.

About the same price as a coffee.

[ossavir]

Microsoft buys overpriced latte for Republican congressman

In an attempt to convince Washington to begin using Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system in government agencies, a Microsoft executive was seen buying a cup of coffee for an a member of Congress, which was valued at $4.78.

[rcrusoe]

Dems drink coffee too

Let's be fair. No one, who is willing to do what is necessary to be
elected to high public office in this country, is the kind of person
you want representing you.

Most congress critters have a long, long history of taking money
from MS, the movie and music industry, and anyone else with a
checkbook.

[b_baggins]

Well, considering

that Democrats hold majorities in both the House and Senate, it's
kind of stupid to be lobbying Republicans these days.

[ethana2]

It's not right to let them

have any direct influence in matters until the abide by laws and standards already in place. When they fully implement .odt in Office, I'll give a second glance to ooxml, for instance. Until then, no. Keep them out.

Would we give iran and north korea majority voting power in the UN? I think not.

[sal-magnone]

Take your meds

MSFT is not NK or Iran.

The problem is not with MSFT giving Congress and Lobby groups money - the problem is with the system that takes this money from ANYONE and EVERYONE.

Cut them ALL off - not their access - but their $$.

[Astinsan]

what are you tring to say?

Are you making a joke? Or. Are you trying to point out that 4.whatever million isn't much to a company as bloated as microsoft?

I highly doubt microsoft even noticed the expense.

They have to prove that microsoft is the computer. They only have a few more years left of clueless political idiots who have no idea who Sun is or Novel. My favorite political quote was the intertubes quote. "We don't make money on the internet."

[MadLyb]

Out of context

While I am no fan of Microsoft, this is poor reporting. First, you started with just a snippet of information and went ahead and posted.

Then, you actually went and got some additional information and added that, but you still left the article out of context, allowing you to imply some nefarious scheme on Microsoft's part without actually accusing them of anything.

How much is spent in total for everyone that lobbies Congress?

Who are the biggest spenders? I can guarantee it's not Microsoft, because one of the companies for which I own stock spent more than 10 times that amount last year.

What about Microsoft's biggest competitors? How much does Google, Oracle, IBM, SAP, etc. spend?

I think that if you look at the bigger picture, you realize two things. First, everybody lobbies Congress and second the technology industry has been slow to come to the realization that they had to lobby Congress to protect their interests and they spend a pittance compared to Energy Companies, Defense Contractors, and even the Entertainment Industry.

This is one of my pet peeves with blogs. You want to be treated like journalists, but you want to do it by your own rules.

[MadLyb]

Here are some numbers

Quick Google and here is some context.

$2.14 Billion was spent in 2004 lobbying Congress and this doesn't include political contributions. For example, in the first half of 2003, the Tobacco Industry spent $10.6 million while also spending $1.1 million on political contributions.

If you want to see some real numbers, in 2003 the Pharma industry spent $116 million lobbying Congress, which was also the year that brought us the universally despised Medicare Drug Bill.

And forget Corporate America, the fine universities of our nation spent over $75 million in 2005 lobbying Congress. Three of them spent more money that Microsoft that year alone.

BTW, this, albeit weak, due diligence took 5 mins of effort.

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

Deja vu? Google?

deja vu?
http://www.techdirt.com/article.php?sid=20060328/0148210