(Source: Associated Press, December 14, 2011)
OMAHA, Neb. — Warren Buffett prefers to keep Berkshire Hathaway’s corporate headquarters tiny, so the Omaha company doesn’t lobby the federal government. But that doesn’t keep several of Berkshire’s subsidiaries from hiring their own lobbyists.
According to the Associated Press, Berkshire’s Burlington Northern Santa Fe spent $1.32 million on lobbying during the third quarter to influence a variety of issues related to railroads, including grain shipments and locomotive emissions standards. BNSF also tried to influence the way the federal government issues fines for drug smuggling at the Mexican border and the way the dams along the Missouri River are managed. The railroad’s spending is up from the $970,000 the railroad spend during last year’s third quarter, but it’s less than the $1.8 million BNSF spent on lobbying in this year’s second quarter.
Full story: Business Week