Google doubles its spending on lobbying

Google is dropping a lot of cash on lobbying, hitting an all-time high.

The Internet search giant, under heavy scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and regulators, shelled out $2.4 million on lobbying this quarter, nearly double what it spent a year ago.

Google spent $5.9 million from Jan. 1 through Sept. 30, a 51 percent jump from a year ago. To put that in perspective, Google spent $5.2 million total on lobbying last year.

Google has doubled its spending on lobbying in the past two years. It has also formed a political action committee to give donations to candidates, and it has hired influential lobbyists such as Dick Gephardt, a former House Democratic leader.

Google is in the grips of a Federal Trade Commission investigation, and the Justice Department is reviewing its proposed purchases of Motorola Mobility Holdings and Internet advertising firm Admeld.

Associated Press