Bailout Watch 357: GM Spends $3.3m to Score $13.4b

That’s one Hell of a ROI. And in case you hadn’t figured it out, we’re talking about lobbying costs to score bailout bucks. The Wall Street Journal reports GM’s ’08 spend on D.C. power brokering totaled $13.1m. (The $3.3.m spend covers the period of bailout begging.) That’s down from ’07’s $14.3m, but times are tough. Hence the bailout. Anyway, GM spokespinner Greg Martin assured the WSJ that no taxpayers were hurt during the buttering-up of federal legislators. “Lobbying is the transparent and effective way that GM has its voice heard on critical policy issues… that companies should not be required to forfeit if they receive federal funding,” Martin said, endearing himself to taxpayers throughout the country. Martin added that no funds lent from the Treasury would be used for lobbying. Huh? I thought GM promised the SEC yesterday not to cook the books. I mean, from what “ring fenced fund” does the lobbying money come from, pray tell? Ready to listen a bit more of that song “Fool on the Hill?’ Then let’s talk about the recently nationalized GMAC…

“Lobbying spending by GMAC LLC, GM’s auto- and mortgage-lending arm, more than tripled to $4.6 million in 2008 from 2007.” Geez, I wonder why that is? Does that fact that the Treasury department bent the rules so they could become a bank, and then threw $6b of your hard-earned money into the pot have anything to do with it? Yes and no.

“I think it’s obvious that the increased spending on Washington-related activities was related to the environment and the restructuring that we are going through,” opined Toni Simonetti, GMAC’s vice president for global communications. Obvious, yes. And nauseating.

Anyway, Chrysler’s ROI– lobbying vs. bridge loans to nowhere– clocked-in at $3.1m (for the last two financial quarters) on $4b. If these guys could just match this kind of financial performance for their cars and loans, they’d be all set.