Altria Client Services Spends $2.6M on Lobbying

Source from:  AP 03/25/2010

Altria Client Services Inc., on behalf of the nation's biggest cigarette maker, spent $2.6 million lobbying the federal government in the fourth quarter on issues including tobacco, health care and pensions, according to a recent disclosure form. This is 16 percent lower than the $3.1 million that the company spent on its lobbying efforts in the prior-year period, and about even with what it spent in the third quarter of 2009. Other issues Altria lobbied on during the October through December period included the Free Flow of Information Act, the America's Affordable Health Choice Act of 2009, the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act, and the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act, according to the filing on Jan. 20. Altria only lobbied Congress during the quarter. Altria Group Inc., based in Richmond, Va., is the owner of Philip Morris USA and makes Marlboro cigarettes and other tobacco products. Enditem