Lobbying Congress to make sure the Internet is regulated how you'd like it to be regulated? $680,000.

Gaining influence and votes in the US legislative body? Priceless.

Mastercard spent $680,000 lobbying Congress on "Internet-related issues," including Internet gambling, last year. No word on what side the huge credit card company came down on, though.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5545407.html