The Post notes lobbying spending on the fight over a soda tax in Washington, DC.
According to D.C law, lobbying is defined as “communicating directly with any official in the legislative or executive branch of the District government with the purpose of influencing any legislative action or an administrative decision.”
The law states organizations also have to report “total expenditures on lobbying,” but it exempts communication made “through the instrumentality of a newspaper, television or radio of general circulation.”
“We follow the law,” said Tracey A. Halliday, vice-president of communications for the American Beverage Association.