Nearly half of this budget is spent on local lobbyists, whose goal is to influence key decision makers.

Legislators rely on lobbyists for information and input from their various constituencies.

The largest increases have been seen in the last three years, when spending on lobbyists rose by 63 percent.

The company has spent nearly $5 million in two years on lawyers and lobbyists alone, and the costs are mounting.

In 2010, the tobacco industry spent $16.6 million on lobbyists to represent the industry to Congress.

Since last June, Congress has put in place new restrictions on lobbyists.

The pressure on political action committees and lobbyists will only escalate in the coming weeks.

The airline group also spent more than $100,000 on lobbyists, and hired a public relations firm to spread its message.

But increasingly members of Congress have put pressure on lobbyists to support their legislative priorities.

It also spent $2.25 million on lobbyists last year, according to its filings in Washington.