From the amount UPS spends in lobbying, I guess it's wise not to underestimate the power of Brown.
UPS spent more than $1.3M lobbying in 2Q: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance
UPS spent more than $1.3M lobbying in 2Q
Friday August 8, 9:20 am ET UPS spent more than $1.3 million lobbying federal government in second quarter
WASHINGTON (AP) -- UPS Inc., the world's largest shipping carrier, spent more than $1.3 million in the second quarter to lobby on issues
including its proposal to carry some air packages for DHL, according to a recent disclosure form.
The Atlanta-based company, also know as United Parcel Service, lobbied on the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration, appropriations for the departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, as well as legislation dealing patent reform, data security and health care policy.
UPS also lobbied on aviation safety issues and technology, and UPS' "proposed airlift agreement with DHL," according to the form posted online July 16 by the House clerk's office.
UPS announced on May 28 that it was seeking to work out a contract with DHL that would mostly involve the transport of DHL packages between airports in North America -- not the pickup or delivery of DHL packages to customers.
UPS has said the deal, which it hopes to complete by the end of the year, is similar to its existing agreement with the U.S. Postal Service.
UPS said the deal, when completed, will add up to $1 billion in annual revenue for UPS. DHL is the struggling U.S.-based express shipping unit of German postal service Deutsche Post AG.
The deal could be a significant blow to DHL's current vendors for the air shipments UPS is seeking to take over. Thousands of jobs could be lost in Ohio, where some officials are trying to scuttle the deal.
Two U.S. senators have asked the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission to review the proposal. They argue the deal raises competition concerns.
UPS has asserted that the federal government does not have authority over the vendor relationship.
Besides Congress, the company lobbied the departments of Transportation, Homeland Security, Labor and other agencies in the April-June period.