Auto dealer group spent more than $1 million lobbying Washington during second quarter

Car dealer group spent $1 million lobbying in 2Q

WASHINGTON — An organization representing auto dealers spent $1.05 million on lobbying in the second quarter as it waged a successful effort to exempt dealers from broad consumer protection legislation.

The National Automobile Dealers Association was able to stave off proposals that auto lending through dealers should fall under the authority of a new consumer protection bureau created by a financial reform law passed in mid-July.

The group, which represents most of the nation’s dealerships, heavily lobbied Congress on the issue. It argued dealers already fell under several existing consumer protection regulations and should not be included in legislation targeted at reforming Wall Street.

The group’s second-quarter lobbying total was more than the $776,000 it spent a year earlier and far more than the $540,000 it devoted to lobbying in 2010’s first quarter.

Among other issues NADA listed in its disclosure form filed with the House clerk’s office July 20 were clean air bills, legislation related to auto repairs and small business regulations.