Lobbyists and Their Return on Investment

Issue
The White House wanted to add new regulatory oversight to the way auto dealers sell car loans. A public-interest group estimates that auto dealers pocket $20 billion each year by adding interest and fee kickbacks to loans

Pressure
Domestic and international car dealers fought to prevent new regulations on their business. The industry has spent $6.3 million on lobbying since the start of 2009 and given an additional $3.4 million in campaign contributions

Payoff
Congressional leaders exempted the nation's 18,000 auto dealers from the new consumer-protection regulations. While car loans offered by large banks will be subject to new oversight, most local car dealers will not be regulated