US Travel Association spent $270,000 in 3rd quarter lobbying on visa, airport, border issues

November 9th, 2009 Aircraft owner group spent $770,000 lobbying in 3QWASHINGTON — The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association spent $770,000 in the third quarter lobbying on issues related to small aircraft, security and airport fees, according to a recent disclosure form. The group, which represents private pilots, lobbied on legislation that would require the Homeland Security secretary to go through a negotiated rulemaking process before issuing rules aimed at general aviation aircraft, unless there's an urgent security threat.

November 4th, 2009 Airbus Americas spent $190K lobbying in 3QWASHINGTON — Airbus Americas Inc. spent $190,000 in the third quarter lobbying over its competition for a $35 billion Air Force contract for aerial refueling tankers and other issues, according to a recent disclosure form.

November 3rd, 2009 United Airlines spent $510K lobbying gov't in 3QWASHINGTON — United Airlines spent $510,000 in the third quarter lobbying on legislation including the cap-and-trade bill that was taken up in the Senate this week, according to a recent disclosure form. The cap-and-trade legislation would put a price on each ton of pollution and allow businesses to buy and sell permits for their emissions.

October 27th, 2009 Utility group spent $2.7M lobbying gov't in 3QWASHINGTON — The Edison Electric Institute, a group for shareholder-owned electric companies, spent nearly $2.7 million in the third quarter to lobby on energy issues, according to a recent disclosure report. The group lobbied on legislation to provide incentives to accelerate production of plug-in electric vehicles, climate change and protecting the electricity grid from a cyber attack, as well as on coal ash, electric transmission, energy efficiency and more.

October 27th, 2009 AEP spent nearly $1.5M lobbying gov't in 3QWASHINGTON — American Electric Power, one of the nation's largest power generators, spent nearly $1.5 million lobbying in the third quarter on climate change legislation, electric transmission and other issues, according to a recent disclosure report. Columbus, Ohio-based AEP also lobbied on capturing carbon dioxide and burying it underground, coal ash, legislation that seeks to protect the nation's electricity system from cyber attacks, legislation that would require metal recycling companies to keep track of sales to deter theft and more.

October 21st, 2009 Insurance group lobbying up in recent monthsWASHINGTON — The nation's health insurance companies have ramped up their lobbying as the battle over reshaping the health care system has escalated. America's Health Insurance Plans reported spending $2.4 million during July, August and September.

September 8th, 2009 Appeals court upholds lobbying disclosure lawWASHINGTON — A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld a 2007 law that requires trade associations to disclose their members who contribute to lobbying activities. The National Association of Manufacturers said the law, which requires that the organization release the names of members that contribute more than $5,000 in a quarterly period for lobbying activities, violates their members' rights to privacy and freedom of association.

August 17th, 2009 Toyota spent $1.4M lobbying in 2nd quarterNEW YORK — Toyota Motor North America Inc. spent $1.4 million in the second quarter to lobby on vehicle safety and other issues, according to a recent regulatory filing.

July 21st, 2009 Drug industry, Pfizer lead in health lobbyingWASHINGTON — The drug industry's trade group and one of the nation's biggest pharmaceutical companies reported spending more money than other health care organizations on lobbying in the second quarter of this year. With the fight over President Barack Obama's effort to revamp the nation's health care system escalating, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said it spent $6.2 million lobbying in April, May and June, according to reports to Congress that were due Monday.

July 20th, 2009 Doctors, Eli Lilly and Co. lead in health lobbyingWASHINGTON — The country's largest doctors' group and one of the nation's biggest pharmaceutical companies reported spending more money than other health care organizations on lobbying in the second quarter of this year.

July 1st, 2009 Visa sells shares of Brazilian business under IPOSAN FRANCISCO — Visa Inc. on Wednesday said that through its international subsidiary, it has sold roughly 136.5 million shares of its Brazilian business in connection with its initial public offering.

June 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Undeterred by the slowdown, Indians continued to spend online in the last quarter of 2008 to emerge as the third highest spenders on the Internet in the Asia Pacific region, a report released Thursday by electronic payments giant VISA said. The report said Indian online shoppers increased their purchases by 42 percent, or by about $1,000 per shopper to $3,450, compared to the $2,420 spent in the previous quarter.

May 12th, 2009 Lockheed ramped up lobbying in 1QWASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin Corp. significantly increased the amount of money it spent lobbying Congress and the Pentagon during the first quarter as it fought to stave off proposed cuts to some of its major weapons programs.

February 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - In a move that will ease processing of travel and visa documents for inbound tourists from Singapore and boost tourism and trade ties between both the countries, the Indian High Commission in Singapore has hired Quoprro Global, a subsidiary of Cox and Kings India Limited, to start visa and passport services. According to the mandate given by the Indian High Commission, Quoprro Global will accept all visa applications for India from Singapore nationals and other foreign nationals, who are residents of Singapore, as well as passport applications for Indian nationals residing in Singapore.

January 21st, 2009 GANDHINAGAR - Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has no plans to seek a US visa after the change of guard at the White House, an official said here Thursday. Modi has not made any request for a visa to visit the US as he has no plans to go to that country in the near future, an official at the Chief Minister's Office said in a press release here Thursday.