Having secured $85 billion in special loans from the United States taxpayer, American International Group (NYSE: AIG) has suspended its lobbying efforts in response to widespread criticism.
The Center for Responsive Politics reports that AIG spent $6.6m on in-house lobbying activists and another $768,000 on outside lobbying consultants so far this year.
The move comes in the wake of public outrage over AIG's perceived influence on elected officials and its decision to blow nearly half a million dollars on a luxury retreat for executives. But you have to admit, the publicity stunt of canceling the lobbying after the check has cleared is a wonderfully manipulative and hypocritical gesture.
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Catch up on your AIG news:
::AIG Fraud Case: Using The Market To Set Jail Terms
::AIG Party: $86,000 Worth Of Partridge Hunting
::Fed Gives AIG Additional $37B In Aid
::Deborah Senn: AIG Executives Win Record Government Bailout: Next Stop, Disneyland
::AIG Congressional Hearing: "They Were Getting Manicures... While American People Were Footing The Bill"