$3.3 million spent on immigration lobbying efforts in 2006

In 2006, big business, labor unions and other pro-immigration groups spent millions of dollars lobbying Congress. Though more than $3.3 was spent on immigration lobbying during FY 2006, the House and Senate passed different versions of immigration legislation.

Most of the $3.3 million total was spent by supporters of the amnesty-style legislation contained in the Senate bill, which would have created a guest-worker program and offered a path to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally. Some lawmakers who supported the Senate bill said business groups may have to work even harder this year if they want to pass legislation.

Groups that advocate tougher border security also lobbied Congress in 2006, but disclosure forms show they were outnumbered by a broad coalition of pro-amnesty corporations, unions and nonprofit advocacy groups.