Yahoo's 3Q lobbying expense rises 15 pct to $620K

[December 19, 2011]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Yahoo Inc. isn't relenting in its efforts to sway U.S. lawmakers and regulators, even as its board mulls whether to sell all or part of the Internet company.

The company's third-quarter lobbying tab totaled $620,000, a 15 percent increase from $540,000 at the same time last year, according to a statement with the House clerk's office.

The money was spent from July through September, a tumultuous stretch for the one of the Internet's best-known -- and most beleaguered -- companies. Yahoo fired Silicon Valley veteran Carol Bartz.in early September because it was unhappy with her inability to snap the company out of a financial funk. Since then, the board has been evaluating various options that include selling a 20 percent stake to outside investors or selling the business in its entirety.

Although it is pouring more into political persuasion, Yahoo isn't keeping up with technology's big spenders -- some of whom are competitors. Internet search leader Google Inc., for instance, spent $2.4 million on lobbying in the third quarter while Microsoft Corp., the owner of msn.com, spent nearly $1.9 million.

Yahoo's lobbying agenda covered a range of issues, including online advertising, e-commerce, Internet security, corporate governance, executive compensation, tax policy and the future of journalism in the Internet age, according to an Oct. 20 disclosure statement.

The company made its points with Congress, the State Department, the Federal Trade Commission, the Commerce Department, the Federal Communications Commission, the Office of Management & Budget and the U.S Trade Representative.

[Associated Press]

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