Watchdog: Google lobbied on EMR stimulus provisions

Google should "come clean" and release the specific positions it advocated during its lobbying campaign on the economic stimulus law, contradicting earlier denials from the company, according to the nonprofit group Consumer Watchdog.

Issues that Google sought to influence are listed in first quarter lobbying reports filed with the U.S. Senate Office of Public Records--evidence that contradicts earlier denials from Google, according to the group.

Google's financial report shows a total expenditure of $880,000 on lobbying during the period including on "online health-related initiatives; issues relating to online personal health records, including in connection with H.R. 1: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009," as well as broadband issues related to the law.

Lobbying firms such as the Podesta Group, and Atlanta-based lawfirm King and Spalding also independently revealed what they received from Google to lobby for on health IT provisions in the stimulus.

Podesta reported receiving $150,000 from Google and King and Spalding reported receiving $80,000 for their efforts on Google's behalf, reported Consumer Watchdog.

The nonprofit group reported that after it broke the news about the suspected lobbying in January, Google contacted a charitable foundation about withdrawing Consumer Watchdog funding.

"It is now clear from public records that Google was lobbying Congress relating to online personal health records in connection with the economic stimulus act...  What else could Google have been seeking except to be excluded from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provisions on privacy and forbidding sale of records? Please tell us," wrote Jamie Court, Consumer Watchdog president and John M. Simpson, consumer advocate, in the letter to Google CEO Eric Schmidt released last week.