Ford Motor Co. spent $1.42 million in the second quarter to lobby the federal government on bills that would promote electric vehicles and reduce federal highway funds to states that don't ban texting while driving.
That's slightly less than the $1.39 million Ford spent in the first quarter or the $1.75 billion the automaker spent in the second quarter of 2009, when fellow U.S. automakers General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC went into bankruptcy protection.
In the April-to-June period, Ford lobbied on a variety of issues, including advanced automotive technology research at the U.S. Department of Energy, aid for troubled auto suppliers, ethanol and tax incentives for manufacturing and research and development.
It also lobbied on tariffs and the issue of Chinese tire imports. The Obama administration in September announced a 35 percent duty on Chinese-made tires for the next three years.
Ziad Ojakli, the former chief Senate liaison to President Bush, is among those registered to lobby for Ford.
