Monsanto Is a Lobbying Powerhouse
BY DAN FLYNN | MAR 03, 2012
From an upper floor of a building just a couple blocks northeast of the White House, Monsanto runs a well-greased lobbying shop. At a cost of $1.21 million last quarter, the effort is not lacking in people power for its work in the nation's capitol. In addition to seven registered staff lobbyists, Monsanto, on contract, is ready to deploy:
- Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, the nation's top lobbying firm. It has a contact valued at $50,000 per quarter with Monsanto for the services of registered lobbyist Brian Pomper, a foreign trade expert.
- The Washington Tax Group LLC, with registered lobbyists Gregory Nickerson and Jan Fowler, is ready to help with the "simplified research and development tax credit" and issues related to international corporate tax reform.
- Crawford Quilty & Mauro Law Firm (based in Des Moines) brings registered lobbyists Jerry Crawford and Nick Mauro in to help with ag consolidation and competition, and to tend to issues involving Roundup Ready sugar beets and alfalfa.
- American Continental Group, with registered lobbyists Manus Cooney, Trista Roehl,and Karen Stone, who help with the heavy lifting on the Hill over the America Invents Act implementation and Biotech crop competition.
- The Russell Group's Randall Russell and Tyson Redpath are also up for a fight on biotech acceptance, and issues related to agriculture competition and appropriations.
All totaled, the contract help cost Monsanto $285,000 a quarter. Like many corporations, Monsanto is not afraid to spend money to fill in for any inadequacies that may exist within its bullpen of staff lobbyists.
El Experimento Caribeño de Monsanto (en PR)
