That same month, the company's lobbying effort for regulation began to show its first signs of success.

The lobbying effort comes as the economic picture is growing increasingly bleak for many states.

"It was much more of a lobbying effort than I'd ever seen," he said.

"There won't be a lobbying effort in a year's time that doesn't have a component of this."

He has headed the bank for the last 20 months and is expected to play a key role in the lobbying efforts.

"Our lobbying efforts have cost us practically nothing," she added.

Her decision to join the city's lobbying effort may not make much difference at this late stage.

The chamber was one of the leaders in the lobbying effort against the proposed executive order.

The trade school association spent $1.9 million in a similar lobbying effort two years ago, according to its latest available tax return.

That prospect moved the Bush administration to begin a direct lobbying effort.