Google, under fire, again boosts spending on lobbying

Google is dropping a lot of cash on lobbying, hitting another all-time high.

The Internet search giant, under heavy scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and regulators, shelled out $2.4 million on lobbying this quarter, nearly double what it spent in the same period a year ago.

Google spent $5.9 million from Jan. 1 through Sept. 30, a 51% jump from a year ago. To put that in perspective, Google spent $5.2 million total on lobbying last year.

Google has doubled its spending on lobbying in the last two years. It has also formed a political action committee to give donations to candidates and it has hired influential lobbyists such as Richard Gephardt, a former House Democratic leader.

Google is in the grips of a Federal Trade Commission investigation and the Justice Department is reviewing its proposed $12.5-billion purchase of Motorola Mobility Holdings and its $400-million purchase of Internet advertising firm Admeld.

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-- Jessica Guynn

Photo: Google Chairman Eric Schmidt testified on Capitol Hill last month to answer charges that the Internet search giant unfairly uses its market dominance. Photo credit: J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press