Lobbying the Soda Tax to Death, Michael Bennet's Ban and More in Capital Eye Opener: April 30

Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics:

POP GOES THE LOBBYING: As the Center for Responsive Politics on Thursday released a detailed report on federal lobbying activity during this year's first quarter, one particular statistic kept flashing like strobe lights at a streaking stunt: 3,785 percent. That's how much the American Beverage Association increased its lobbying expenditures from the first quarter of 2009 to the first quarter of 2010 -- from $140,000 to $5.4 million.

 

Say what, you say? Two words: soda tax. During the nation's months-long debate over health care reform, a few congressional members proposed that the United States should tax sugary, carbonated beverages in part to fight obesity, in part to raise money to fund expanded health care initiatives. The beverage industry not only balked, but went to battle, injecting millions of dollars more into federal lobbying efforts than it almost certainly would have absent the soda tax proposal. Not soon after, the soda tax -- ahem -- fizzed out.

REST AT http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/04/your-daily-dose-of-news-19.html