|
Though Apple faces scrutiny from the federal government in the formof an antitrust lawsuit, the company has only spent $500,000 onlobbying the U.S. government in the first three months of 2012. Apple's activity, or lack thereof, in Washington D.C. washighlighted in a profile published on Wednesday by Politico . While the iPhone maker spent just a half-million dollars onlobbying in the first quarter of 2012, rivals Google and Microsoftspent nearly $7 million combined during the same period, accordingto congressional lobbying disclosure reports. Apple's relative absence from the lobbying scene in Washington hasapparently left the company with few friends. That could presentcomplications with respect to a new Justice Department lawsuit,filed last month , which has accused Apple and a number of book publishers of pricefixing and collusion. Wednesday's report featured comments from Jeff Miller, who waspreviously a senior aide for 8 years on the Senate JudiciaryCommittee's Antitrust Subcommittee. He said he never had a meetingwith any lobbyist representing Apple. "There have been other tech companies who chose not to engage inWashington, and for the most part that strategy did not benefitthem," Miller said. Among technology companies, Google has the largest presence by far,having spent $5 million in the first quarter of 2012 alone.Microsoft was in second with $1.8 million, while Hewlett-Packardfinished third with $1.6 million. Apple's spending doesn't even crack the top 10, as the companyfinished in 11th place behind ninth-place Facebook, which spent$816,000 during the quarter, and tenth-place Dell, which allocated$620,000 for lobbying. The $500,000 Apple spent in the first quarter of 2012 is actually down slightly from the same period in 2011, when the company put $560,000 towardfederal lobbying. Last year's sum was roughly one-third the amountGoogle and Microsoft each spent during the same period. In 2012, the gap has grown even further, with Google spending tentimes as much, and Microsoft more than three times as much. Bothcompanies are joined by Facebook by having their own politicalaction committees, while Apple has none. And Google and Microsoftwere also noted by Politico to have media operations in Washington, while the famouslytight-lipped Apple does not. While Apple hasn't spent a great deal directly on lobbying, thecompany does participate in some groups that advocate on its behalfin Washington. For example, last September Apple joined the Digital Due Process coalition, which seeks to reformsurveillance laws in the U.S. and secure individuals' rights toprivacy with modern Internet technology. In addition, Apple has joined other companies in pushing for an offshore tax holiday that would allow the company to repatriate funds stored overseasand spend them in the U.S. at a lower tax rate. Other companies inthe consortium included Cisco, Duke Energy, Oracle, and Pfizer. I am an expert from hydropower-turbine.com, while we provides the quality product, such as China Pelton Hydro Turbine , China Natural Gas Powered Generators, Tubular Turbine,and more.
Related Articles -
China Pelton Hydro Turbine, China Natural Gas Powered Generators,
|
