POLI 100E, Interest Group Politics: Topic 2, Why are there so Many Interest Groups?


The Variety of Groups that Lobby Congress
Total Lobbyist Spending 1997 - 2000

            Total Lobbyist Spending (in millions)

Sector                         2000  1999  1998  1997

Agribusiness                     78    83   119    86
	
Communications/Electronics      204   193   186   154

Construction                     23    24    22    17
	
Defense                          60    53    49    49

Energy & Natural Resources      159   158   149   143

Finance, Insurance, Real Estate 229   214   203   177

Health                          209   197   165   163

Lawyers & Lobbyists              16    18    19    13

Misc Business                   224   193   168   150

Transportation                  138   117   115   112

Ideological/Single-Issue         85    76    76    73

Labor                            27    24    24    21

Other                           103    87    69    66