G.E. brings good things to K Street

[acmejack]

"General Electric has shelved its old ad pitch that it brought good things to life. But it continues to bring good things, i.e. money, to K Street.

The company, which ranks fifth on the Fortune 500, spent a whopping $13.9 million during the first six months of 2005 on its lobbying operation, according to Senate lobbying records. That's significantly more than in 2004 when G.E. shelled out sums of $8.4 million and $7.8 million during the first and second halves, respectively, of the year. For both reporting periods in 2004, G.E. was the biggest spender on K Street among single companies - a title it looks likely to retain. In 2004, only the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Telecom Association and the American Medical Association spent more.

So far in 2005, G.E. would rate number one overall, so long as the Chamber is separated from its legal-reform arm. The list of issues G.E. lobbied on includes: NASA, defense, transportation and energy appropriations; the Central America Free Trade Agreement; health care; terrorism insurance; bankruptcy; "Clear Skies;" and chemical plant security."

The Hill E-news (e mail, sorry, no link!

[Village Idiot]

1. As ONE of the largest US Defense (scumbag) Contractors

Involved in Eisenhower's "Military Industrial Complex," it makes a lot of sense to lobby HARD!!!

"issues G.E. lobbied on includes: NASA, defense, transportation and energy appropriations; the Central America Free Trade Agreement; health care; terrorism insurance; bankruptcy; "Clear Skies;" and chemical plant security."

Why not change their slogan to:

"G.E.: We bring good things to Iraq and Afghanistan, and Syria, and Columbia, and Guatemala, and Vietnam, and Indonesia, and Haiti, and..."

[Supersedeas]

2. And with K Street and Media connections--public policy looks le$$ public

[DainBramaged]

3. What's the new campaign jingle for the great unwashed?

Ecomagination

or-how to buy influence and fuck the public at large