Trade Agreements Make Lobbyists Millions

When Congress considers a major piece of legislation, lobbyists generally make out quite well financially because outside parties interested in the outcome pay lobbyists to help influence that result.

This dynamic is playing out as usual in the free-trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. Justice Department records show that the three countries’ Washington embassies, foreign ministries, and trade agencies forked over at least $15 million for lobbying, legal, and PR expenses since the beginning of 2006 to help push for the agreements, The Hill reports.

The spending has totaled at least $2.3 million so far this year. More than 30 lobby shops, law firms, and PR companies have been the beneficiaries of the past five years of spending. And the $15 million doesn’t include the expenditures of unions, human-rights advocates, and other left-wing interests that sought to sink the agreements.