Thanksgiving interests

The 2009 cost of a Thanksgiving meal for ten according to the American Farm Bureau agribusiness trade group is $42.91. This is down slightly from last years average $44.61.
Maybe that tells only part of the cost as lobbyists in Thanksgiving related industries work hard all year to ensure there’s a butterball on every American’s table .We should be thankful for the clear eyed and heroic efforts lobbyists put in on behalf of our Thanksgiving.

"We don't want to even create an appearance that we're mixing our members' government affairs business with the business of making sure Americans enjoy their holiday."

said Joel Brandenberger, president of the National Turkey Federation.
Should we be thankful for the clear eyed and heroic efforts these lobbyists put in on behalf of our Thanksgiving? Where would we be without armies of industry lobbyists?
The National Turkey Federation spent $240,000 in lobbying this year .Keeping an eye on agriculture appropriations bills, avian influenza and climate change legislation.
There must have been little pending legislation that could have affected potatoes this year as the National Potato Council only forked over $30,000 in lobbying this year.
2008 was the United Nations International Year of the Potato so a quiet year may have been in the cards .

The cranberry lobby proved more active than potato interests in 2009 .The Cape Cod Cranberry Association and the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association managed to gain $1.25 million in federal research funds in an agricultural bill. The powerful Ocean Spray company spent $300,000 lobbying free trade and federal dietary guidelines that mention the benefits of cranberry juice.