Spends more on lobbying in Q4 of 2009 than any other group did all year

It's no secret the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was embroiled in one two of the most expensive lobbying efforts in the organization's 98-year history in 2009. According to lobbying disclosure forms released this week, the Chamber spent $123 million on all lobbying activities for 2009, nearly double the $62 million spent in 2008. In the fourth quarter of 2009, when the health care and climate change debates were heating up on Capitol Hill, so were the Chamber checkbooks, to the tune of $71 million.

The Chamber's strong opposition to climate policy--and their strategy of challenging the science behind it--moved several large companies including Apple and several major energy utilities to leave the group in protest. Just how much is the Chamber spending on lobbyists? Check out this striking graph from The National Journal:

The National Journal via Mother Jones