(The Associated Press circulated the following on February 21.)
NEW YORK — The Association of American Railroads spent $7.6 million lobbying the government last year on issues including energy independence, terrorism and competition in the rail industry.
The AAR, which represents North American freight railroads, spent $3.4 million in the first half of 2007 and $4.2 million in the second half, according to a disclosure form posted online Thursday by the Senate’s public records office.
The issues lobbied on include energy independence, pollution, terrorism and competition in the rail industry.
Lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches, under a federal law enacted in 1995.