US glassmaker Owens-Illinois Inc. (O-I) reported fourth-quarter lobbying expenses for the Congress and federal agencies of USD 274,000 with regards to issues such as cap and trade legislation, soda ta…
US glassmaker Owens-Illinois Inc. (O-I) reported fourth-quarter lobbying expenses for the Congress and federal agencies of USD 274,000 with regards to issues such as cap and trade legislation, soda taxes, and recycling of drink containers. O-I added that its other lobbying interests, which involved both houses of Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Energy, included the Colombia Free Trade Agreement and alternative minimum tax issues. Some US states have proposed taxes on soft drinks to try to prevent unhealthy behaviour, and to contribute in raising revenue. Moreover, the soft drink industry organized a public relations and lobbying campaign aimed at keeping the proposed tax out of the recent health care overhaul bill, which, in fact, did not include any taxes on sodas. O-I, based in Perrysburg, Ohio, reportedly spent USD 320,000 on lobbying in the third quarter of 2009, and USD 290,000 in the fourth quarter of 2008.