Miller Top Lobbying Spender

Miller Brewing Co. has spent nearly $2 million lobbying Congress and federal agencies, the most of any beer company, since the brewer’s acquisition by SABMiller in 2003, according to The Associated Press. Prior to the acquisition, when Miller was still part of Philip Morris, such figures weren’t available, as PM’s reports didn’t break down the numbers to Miller’s organizational level. This has changed with Miller’s ownership, and Miller now files its own reports. From July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003, Miller spent $1.84 million, more than the $1.49 million spent by Anheuser-Busch, and much greater than the $360,000 spent by Coors Brewing Co. The expenditures, though significant, do not put the likes of Miller at the top of the list of Washington lobbyists. In the second half of 2002, Miller ranked 131st among groups and businesses in spending on lobbying, according to a list compiled by the nonpartisan Political Money Line web site.