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30 Major U.S. Corporations Paid More to Lobby Congress Than Income Taxes, 2008-2010
International Business Times ^ | 12/9/11 | Ashley Portero

Posted on 12/12/2011 6:34:56 PM PST by Bokababe

By employing a plethora of tax-dodging techniques, 30 multi-million dollar American corporations expended more money lobbying Congress than they paid in federal income taxes between 2008 and 2010, ultimately spending approximately $400,000 every day -- including weekends -- during that three-year period to lobby lawmakers and influence political elections, according to a new report from the non-partisan Public Campaign....

(Excerpt) Read more at ibtimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: corporatetaxes; lobbying
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I've got no problem with low taxes & profit making -- that's great -- but if these major corporations are spending MORE on lobbying than they are save on taxes, it's got to make you wonder what else they are getting to justify the expense.
1 posted on 12/12/2011 6:35:03 PM PST by Bokababe
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To: Bokababe

This is another reason I support a flat business tax, no subsidies or government policies that favor one company/industry over another.

Then there would be no reason to lobby government.


2 posted on 12/12/2011 6:47:32 PM PST by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Pursue Happiness)
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To: Bokababe

Don’t fall for this baloney. The majority of these are companies paying good dividends to shareholders. It was not long ago that people could have good retirement income by purchasing dividend paying stocks. If the people pushing this stuff have their way the only people able to retire will be “public servants.”


3 posted on 12/12/2011 6:52:53 PM PST by Kaisersrsic
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To: Bokababe

Don’t fall for this baloney. The majority of these are companies paying good dividends to shareholders. It was not long ago that people could have good retirement income by purchasing dividend paying stocks. If the people pushing this stuff have their way the only people able to retire will be “public servants.”


4 posted on 12/12/2011 6:52:53 PM PST by Kaisersrsic
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To: Bokababe

If this is how it’s done it’s because the power to regulate and tax has become so intrusive (as politicians discover how to finance their carriers) businesses have no choice. It’s pay to play conveniently packaged to foment class war. Nothing to do with ‘the rich manipulating the system’ or some such marxist tripe.


5 posted on 12/12/2011 6:54:32 PM PST by Track9
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To: GeronL
30 Major U.S. Corporations Paid More to Lobby Congress Than Income Taxes, 2008-2010

If the government has the power of life and death over a corporation, of course they are going to pony up millions for lobbying. Its a clear case of self-defense.

Reduce the power of the federal government and you will instantly reduce corporate expenses for lobbying. Not to mention opportunities for corruption.

Limited government is better government in so many ways...

6 posted on 12/12/2011 6:56:31 PM PST by okie01 (THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ignorance On Parade)
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To: Track9
If this is how it’s done it’s because the power to regulate and tax has become so intrusive (as politicians discover how to finance their careers) businesses have no choice. It’s pay to play conveniently packaged to foment class war.

I agree, but if this is the case -- and I believe that it is -- then the system is broken at the government level -- and "Capitalism" is taking the hit for it.

When that happens, then people (Liberals) get fooled into putting more faith in "government regulating the greedy" -- when in fact it just makes the problem bigger and feeds more corruption in government.

7 posted on 12/12/2011 7:02:45 PM PST by Bokababe (Save Christian Kosovo! http://www.savekosovo.org)
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To: Bokababe
You got it.. it's basic liberal playbook. They've done it for fifty years because people (their constituents) are too brain dead (or simply don't work, work in gov. or some other protected class) to see beyond the talking points.

Societal evolution is very slow. And if it weren't for articulate spokesman like Rush or others, it would be even slower.

8 posted on 12/12/2011 7:13:21 PM PST by Track9
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To: Kaisersrsic
Don’t fall for this baloney. The majority of these are companies paying good dividends to shareholders. It was not long ago that people could have good retirement income by purchasing dividend paying stocks. If the people pushing this stuff have their way the only people able to retire will be “public servants.”

I agree, but people should be worried about the fact that these companies are spending this kind of money to lobby politicians. These companies aren't spending this kind of money without getting something in return.
9 posted on 12/12/2011 7:13:21 PM PST by af_vet_rr
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To: Bokababe

Corporations don’t pay ANY taxes, that haven’t first been paid by inflating the prices of their goods and services, for which THE CUSTOMER PAYS!


10 posted on 12/12/2011 7:15:11 PM PST by G Larry ("I dream of a day when a man is judged by the content of his Character.")
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To: Bokababe

>> By employing a plethora of tax-dodging techniques

An asinine premise that knows no reasonable bounds...

Taxation and fees should be limited to property, regulatory, use, and utility/communication. All employee related fees should be deducted off payroll.

I’d like an explanation as to why a corporation should pay income taxes?


11 posted on 12/12/2011 7:21:07 PM PST by Gene Eric (Save a pretzel for the gas jets.)
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To: GeronL

>> Then there would be no reason to lobby government.

Don’t forget about regulations.


12 posted on 12/12/2011 7:25:18 PM PST by Gene Eric (Save a pretzel for the gas jets.)
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To: Bokababe
I like either the Gingrich or Romney plan for corporate taxes.

Pay either 12.5% or 15% in a flat tax on profits...no deductions.

At least it's not a PROGRESSIVE tax. Everyone who buys from corporations will pay it. That's literally every man, woman and child in the USA. It's like a hidden sales tax.

Then eliminate the capital gains tax.

It's good business and good policy.

No more lobbying by everbody with time and money to lobby.

Then start the trials and hangings for the US Congress.

On the Capitol Steps.

13 posted on 12/12/2011 7:29:20 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Gene Eric
I’d like an explanation as to why a corporation should pay income taxes?

Because if that happened, everyone would pay the $600 to incorporate themselves and then they wouldn't have to pay income taxes.

14 posted on 12/12/2011 7:32:27 PM PST by P-Marlowe (LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
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To: af_vet_rr

I understand why people worry that companies like these spend so much money on lobbying. But imagine if Pacific Gas and Electric, NiSource, Duke Energy, American Electric Power, and DTE did not spend big on lobbying. The democrat controlled Congress, during President Obama’s first two years, might have mandated that all new electric generation be from solar or pin-wheel-wind-farms. It can cost big money to keep Congress from destroying our Country.


15 posted on 12/12/2011 7:48:57 PM PST by Kaisersrsic
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To: P-Marlowe

The income is still recognized to the individual as a distribution through the K-1 in the case of Chapter S.

My comment, btw, concerned C corps.


16 posted on 12/12/2011 7:51:18 PM PST by Gene Eric (Save a pretzel for the gas jets.)
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To: Track9
"Societal evolution is very slow. . And if it weren't for articulate spokesman like Rush or others, it would be even slower."

Actually my favorite was when Peter Schiff went over to OWS with a sign that said, "I'm the 1%. Let's Talk". Schiff gave those who would never listen to Rush, a brilliant education on how capitalism works and on who was really screwing them over -- and it WASN'T "greedy Capitalist Pigs on Wall Street". He told them that the focus of their ire ought to be on Washington, DC, not Wall Street. There are some great videos of him there on youtube.

17 posted on 12/12/2011 7:51:48 PM PST by Bokababe (Save Christian Kosovo! http://www.savekosovo.org)
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To: Gene Eric

I would gladly pay more for goods and services if corporations were taxed and individuals were not.


18 posted on 12/12/2011 8:07:27 PM PST by P-Marlowe (LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
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To: Bokababe

“it’s got to make you wonder what else they are getting to justify the expense.”

In the case of Number ONE on the list, General Electric, they made out like BANDITS for getting Obama and Dems elected, using the Power of NBC, MSNBC, and all of the other companies and affiliates.

GE Capital alone got $140 BILLION DOLLARS in Direct bailouts, and that doesn’t include all the other monies that went to GE for things like Windmills, Stimulus trains, yada,yada...


19 posted on 12/12/2011 8:22:47 PM PST by tcrlaf (Election 2012: THE RAPTURE OF THE DEMOCRATS)
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To: P-Marlowe

>> I would gladly pay more for goods and services if corporations were taxed and individuals were not.

Tell me you’re joking. That’s more extreme than Socialism.


20 posted on 12/12/2011 8:23:57 PM PST by Gene Eric (Save a pretzel for the gas jets.)
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