Lobbying the Postal Service Is a Multimillion-Dollar Business

Note: Additional information is provided in the June 15 follow-up article, An Explanation of Postal Service Lobbying.

Corporations and associations spent more than $20 million last year to lobby the U.S. Postal Service, according to a government database.

During the past decade, organizations shelled out $283 million to influence the USPS.

But even the lobbying business has hit hard times. The amount spent on lobbying the Postal Service has declined every year since 2005, when the combined tab surpassed $40 million, the Senate's Lobbying Database shows.

Three organizations accounted for more than half the $20.3 million spent on influencing the Postal Service last year. The top spenders were:

1)  American Bankers Association: $5.5 million
2)  American Express Company: $2.89 million
3)  Pitney Bowes: $1.99 million
4)  Lorillard Tobacco Company: $1.86 million
5)  Retail Industry Leaders Association: $1.23 million
6)  (tie) Direct Marketing Association and Newspaper Association of America: $1 million each
8)  Disabled American Veterans: $810,000
9)  Medco Health Solutions: $470,000
10) National Newspaper Association: $460,000

Other major spenders of note included Printing Industries of America ($394,745), Appleton Inc. ($190,000), American Business Media ($150,000), Greeting Card Association ($120,000), and the National League of Postmasters ($100,000).

Nearly $5.6 million was spent lobbying the Postal Service during the 1st Quarter of this year. Leading the way were Medco Health Solutions ($1.08 million), International Paper ($1 million), and the Air Transport Association of America ($960,000).