With the news that troubled financial-services giant AIG had decided to stop lobbying after the government took an 80 percent stake in the firm, National Journal asked AIG whether the decision has resulted in personnel changes in its Washington office. The firm has nine registered in-house lobbyists and eight outside lobbying firms on retainer, according to Lobbying Disclosure Act forms.
AIG spokesman Joe Norton said the company has not closed any offices or fired anyone. He said AIG hasn't said what its plans are and is "reviewing all our activities." Asked what the Washington lobbyists are up to if AIG has "suspended all lobbying," Norton responded that they "are being responsive to requests."
AIG's lobbying spending in Washington did plummet in the third quarter of the year. Between July 1 and September 30, the insurer spent $1.84 million on lobbying compared to $3.87 million spent in the first quarter and $2.75 million spent in the second quarter of the year, according to LDA records. In all of 2007, AIG spent $11.4 million on lobbying.
-- Winter Casey and Bara Vaida
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