Amazon invests $3.2 million in Q2 on Washington lobbying attempt

Facing a tough criticism of its plan to buy Whole Foods Markets, the tech giant sustained its multi-million lobbying attempt - shooting out $3.2 million in the second quarter of this year - an augment from the $2.9 million spent in the first three months.

Previously, the company has had along presence in Washington, lobbying on a broad variety of topics ranging from taxes, immigration, trade and mobile payments.

The verdict announced in June, to acquire premium grocer Whole Foods for $13.7 billion roiled the grocery industry and in some way has flashed some opposition on Capitol Hill and amid unions and other Amazon critics.That said, most antitrust experts anticipate the Federal Trade Commission to support the intended merger.

The company's lobbying attempt further doubled in 2015 compared with prior years, spending $9 million that year evaluated at $4.7 million the year before. Amazon added a new firm to the lobbying army in the second quarter of 2017, hiring McGuireWoods Consulting to grip work on drones, among other matters.

Additionally to the consultants, tech giant Amazon also employs in-house lobbyists. Their newest filing lists some 15 employees who lobby on behalf of the company on a extended list of topics and issues collection from drone policy to trade regulations and immigration to food stamp programs.

Well that’s not all; Amazon also takes up firms to lobby on its behalf on a range of topics. In the second quarter of this year, Amazon paid lobbying megafirm Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld $80,000 to lobby, which basically focused on the Marketplace Fairness Act - a bill that would permit state government to collect sales tax from online retailers.