WASHINGTON, DC — Google continued to lead tech firms in lobbying expenses during the third quarter, spending $3.4 million on its effort to buy influence with federal legislators and policymakers, according to disclosure forms just filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Facebook’s spending soared 47 percent to $1.4 million from $980,000 in the comparable 2012 period.  Internet giant Google actually cut its spending 21 percent from $4.2 million in the third quarter of 2012. During 2012 Google was fighting an antitrust investigation of its business practices by the Federal Trade Commission.

Microsoft spent $2.2 million, a 20 percent increase from $1.9 million in 2012.

“Once again the lobbying disclosures demonstrate the sad truth about the state of our democracy,” said John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project director. “When the government is open for business, policymaking is all about who has the cash and is willing throw it around.”

Google outspent Telecommunications giant Verizon, which had lobbying costs of $3.04 million, a 2 percent decrease from $3.09 million.  Verizon Wireless spent $1.2 million, up 19 per cent from $1.1 million. AT&T increased lobbying spending 23 percent from $3.5 million to $4.3 million

Other tech company third quarter lobbying expenditures as disclosed to the Clerk of the House of Representatives on Monday:

•    Amazon spent $780,000, an increase of 42 percent from $550,000 in 2012
•    Apple spent $970,000, an increase of 111 percent from $460,000 in 2012.
•    Cisco Systems spent $890,000, an increase of 17 percent from $760,000.
•    IBM spent $1.18 million, an increase of 16 percent from $1.02 million in 2012.
•    Intel spent $980,000, an increase of 12 percent from $878,000.
•    Oracle spent $1.36 million, a decrease of 4 percent from $1.41 million in 2012.

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