(The Associated Press circulated the following on March 6.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Railroad operator Union Pacific Corp. spent $9.7 million in 2007 to lobby against potential new regulations on the railroad industry, among other issues.
The Omaha, Neb.-based company spent $6.3 million in the second half of 2007 to lobby the federal government, according to a disclosure form posted online Feb. 14 by the Senate’s public records office.
Union Pacific lobbied Congress, the Department of Transportation and the White House against legislation that would impose new regulations on the railroad industry. The company also lobbied against a bill to eliminate certain exemptions for railroad operators to antitrust law and opposed legislation to mandate a DOT strategy for improving railroad safety.
In addition, Union Pacific lobbied Congress on rail security issues and supported additional funds to test rail tank cars.
The company spent $3.4 million in the first six months of 2007 to lobby on many of the same issues, according to an amended midyear report.
Lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches, under a federal law enacted in 1995.