NFL has ramped up campaign donations, lobbying efforts

An investigation by Scripps Howard News Service sports editor John Lindsay found the National Football League has ramped up its campaign contributions and lobbying efforts, mainly trying to affect legislation on broadcasting rights and trying to preempt any move by Congress to intervene in a potential player lockout in 2011. The $3.148 million in lobbying the league spent the last three years is $500,000 more than the league spent on lobbying in the previous six years (2001-2006) combined. This goes against the national trend that saw total lobbying expenditures fall 27 percent from $3.3 billion in 2008 to $2.51 billion in 2009, Lindsay reports.