American Express spent $460,000 lobbying in 3Q - 30Nov 2010

NEW YORK – American Express Co. spent $460,000 in the third quarter to lobby the federal government on credit card reform, tax laws, online data collection and other issues, according to a disclosure report.

That's down 29 percent from the $650,000 that the New York based company spent in the same period a year ago and 27 percent less than the $630,000 spent in the second quarter of 2010.

The credit card issuer and payment processor lobbied the federal government on provisions in the credit card reform law, including gift card issues and small business credit card practices. Interchange fees, the fees that merchants pay to have credit and debit card transactions processed, were also on the company's agenda, along with the financial regulatory reform law and card interest rate caps.

Amex representatives also raised issues regarding proposed changes in mail delivery, online behavioral advertising and proposed laws and regulations related to the collection and use of consumer data, disclosure of airline ticket fees, the online sale of counterfeit goods and a law that allows judges to dismiss lawsuits that are not plausible.

Representatives also discussed numerous tax matters, including middle class and estate tax cuts, energy related rebates, proposed legislation to allow a deduction for company sponsored wellness programs, proposals for taxing bonuses paid by companies that receive federal emergency economic assistance and TARP recipients, and legislation to limit executive compensation by certain financial institutions, according to the report filed on Oct. 18.

In the July to September period, the company lobbied Congress, the office of the president, the Treasury and Energy departments, the Federal Reserve, the Postal Service and the Internal Revenue Service, according to the report filed with the House clerk's office.

(AP)