(The following appeared on the Business Week website on March 20.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Railroad operator Norfolk Southern Corp. spent $3.1 million to lobby the federal government in 2007, according to a disclosure form.
The company lobbied on various appropriations bills and on legislation dealing with climate change, energy issues, terrorism risk insurance and more. Norfolk Southern also opposed legislation that would subject railroads to stiffer antitrust standards. The antitrust bill has the support of a coalition of more than 3,500 electric, utility, chemical and manufacturing companies.
The Norfolk, Va.-based company spent nearly $1.6 million in the second half of 2007 to lobby on those issues, according to the form posted online Feb. 13 by the Senate’s public records office.
Besides Congress, Norfolk Southern lobbied the Federal Railroad Administration and the Transportation Department.
Lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches, under a federal law enacted in 1995.