Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Cars

GM and Chrysler Get 6,666% Return on 2009 Lobbying Investment

Washington lobbyists' 2009 spending levels became final today, and the Detroit Free Press was the first to tally auto industry data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

The big news: Car makers, suppliers, and dealers spent 10 percent less last year on federal influence than they did in 2008, despite reaping big returns from the government's bailout efforts.

To put it in perspective, GM and Chrysler spent a total of $12 million on lobbying through their in-house teams and other private firms, even as they secured a total of $80 billion in loans -- or a 6,666 percent return on their  investment -- from an Obama administration that knew both companies were overly reliant on gas-guzzlers to stay afloat.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Is About Our Transportation Future, Too

Transportation didn't get a lot of mention in the public discussion of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. But it's everywhere.

July 8, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines of Many Colors

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called rainbow crosswalks "a distraction" and called on cities to eliminate them.

July 8, 2025

Form-Based Codes Mean More Sustainable Cities

New research shows that prioritizing building "form" over their use leads to more sustainable cities.

July 8, 2025

Monday’s Headlines Are Big and Beautiful

The ginormous GOP tax and spending bill President Trump signed on July 4 will make the air dirtier, a lot of it from tailpipe emissions.

July 7, 2025

The Single Most Important Element In Creating Good Cities

A lot of U.S. cities are getting their "right of way" all wrong — and urbanists can help by getting to know this poorly-understood concept.

July 7, 2025

Reclaiming Streets from ICE with Music, Dance, Altars, Mutual Aid, Community, and Resistance

The Mariachi Plaza event was one of four held across LA. Tuesday night. The June 19 abduction of street vendor Emma de Paz from the Hollywood Home Depot was a touchstone of the Eastside gathering.

July 4, 2025
See all posts