Beneficiaries of the government's $700 billion Toubled Asset Relief Program spent $77 million on lobbying and $37 million on political contributions in the 2008 election cycle. Those same firms received $295.2 billion in TARP money, according to a Center for Responsive Politics analysis of lobbying disclosure reports.

"Even in the best economic times, you won't find an investment with a greater payoff than what these companies have been getting," said Sheila Krumholz, the center's executive director. "Some of the companies and industries that have received payments may now consider their contributions and lobbying to be the smartest investments they've made in years."

                                                                                                                    -- Bara Vaida