Ride-hailing giants Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. spent more than $1 million lobbying California policy-makers during the last three months of 2019, according to the latest disclosures filed with the Secretary of State's office.

Uber's $701,325 bill was by far its largest quarterly spending on advocacy work since the San Francisco-based company registered as a lobbyist employer in California in 2013.

Lyft's $338,617 in advocacy spending dipped from the $446,450 it paid for state lobbying services between July and September as both companies fought unsuccessfully to derail Assembly Bill 5, legislation making it tougher to classify workers as independent contractors, in the final months of the legislative calendar.

The two companies' combined $2.46 million in spending for 2019 puts them in league with traditional lobbying leaders such as utilities Edison International ($3.3 million) and Pacific Gas & Electric ($2.2 million).

Uber's state filings do not show any lobbying efforts directed toward AB 5. Instead, the company focused on two bills, now shelved, aimed at regulating the two companies' rental bikes and scooters. Uber also lobbied the state Public Utilities Commission on issues related to access for disabled riders, and disclosures show advocacy work targeting the Air Resources Board's campaign to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by ride-hailing companies.

Lyft did report lobbying on AB 5 as well as three other bills dealing with consumer privacy. The company also reported talking to the governor's office about wage-and-hour issues, and, like Uber, it lobbied the Public Utilities Commission and the Air Resources Board.

Local contract lobbyists were the biggest beneficiaries of the companies' efforts to sway decision-makers in 2019. Records show that Lyft worked with Strategies 360 Inc.; Rachelle Chong, a former PUC commissioner turned consultant; KP Public Affairs and Mercury Public Affairs.

Uber retained California Advisors and the Weideman Group. The company also reported $185,000 in payments over the year to campaign consulting firm SCRB Strategies and $90,000 to former state Assemblyman Mike Gatto.

Lyft's spending in California in 2019 surpassed the $930,000 it spent on federal lobbying in Washington, last year, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org. Uber spent almost twice as much on federal lobbying as it did in Sacramento, records show.

 

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