Global Warming Fills Lobbyists' Coffers

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A review of U.S. lobbying disclosure records has revealed that global warming has proved to be a boon to lobbyists. The Center for Public Integrity. a non-profit journalism group, estimates that "more than 770 companies and interest groups hired an estimated 2,340 lobbyists to influence federal policy on climate change in the past year." The Center calculates that the climate change-driven boom has resulted in "an increase of more than 300 percent in the number of lobbyists on climate change in just five years, and means that Washington can now boast more than four climate lobbyists for every member of Congress." Amongst the lobbyists benefiting from the boom are Wayne L. Berman, a former Bush administration official who now heads Ogilvy Government Relations; John Breaux, who founded the Breaux Lott Leadership Group with former Senator Trent Lott; and Kirk Blalock, a tobacco industry lobbyist turned Bush administration official who is now a partner at Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock.