While the U.S. economy has been slowing, lobbyists have been making more than ever. According to the Center for Responsive Politics [3], "businesses, labor unions, governments and other interests spent a record $2.79 billion to lobby Washington in 2007, up 7.7 percent or $200 million in spending the year before." The automotive industry spent a new high of $70.3 million lobbying Congress in 2007; a 19.6% increase over 2006. The change was due in large part to efforts to oppose the enactment of higher fuel efficiency standards. General Motors [4] was responsible for over $14 million in lobbying expenditures, while Ford [5] spent $7.2 million, followed by Toyota [6] with $5.9 million. But the auto industry was not the biggest spender. Trade groups like AARP [7] and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America [8], or PhRMA, topped it. And GM came in fifth in spending by corporations, trailing General Electric [9], ExxonMobil [10], AT&T [11] and Amgen [12]. Center for Responsive Politics executive director Sheila Krumholz said, "At a time when our economy is contracting, Washington's lobbying industry has been expanding. Lobbying seems to be a recession-proof industry. In some respects, interests seek even more from our government when the economy slows."