Anyone interested in keeping track of Google’s lobbying habits can now put a new data point on their graphs. Consumer Watchdog reported today that the company spent $1.2 million in the third quarter of this year, up from $1.08 million a year ago.
That represents an 11 percent increase, which is perhaps not too startling. In fairness to Google, we’ll also note here that plenty of other corporations splurge lots more in an attempt to make friends with Congress (Microsoft spent $1.63 million in the third quarter, for example).
One other detail: Consumer Watchdog is the group that made the oddball "Eric Schmidt as an ice cream man" and "Google = chicken" videos.
Still, Consumer Watchdog was able to point out, "Disclosure records filed with the Senate Office of Public Records show Google has spent $3.92 million so far this year compared with $4.03 million in all of 2009."
And John M. Simpson, director of Consumer Watchdog’s Inside Google project, claimed and predicted, "Google has a group of well-connected lobbyists and is willing to spend freely to influence federal lawmakers and regulators. They appear to be on track to spend a total of $5 million to peddle influence this year."
In probably-not-related news, President Obama is due to attend a fundraising dinner at Google exec Marissa Mayer’s house tonight.