Mattel Spends $210K to Lobby Feds

It was lobbying for what appears to be good policies to protect consumers. But such policies also would help Mattel by keeping cheaper, lower-quality competitors off the market.

Mattel spent $210,000 to lobby in first quarter

(AP) WASHINGTON - Mattel Inc. spent $210,000 in the first quarter to lobby the federal government on consumer product safety legislation and other issues.

The El Segundo, Calif.-based toy maker lobbied on a bill that would boost funding and staffing for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, mandate the first-ever toy safety standards and raise penalties for selling defective products. The legislation also would create a public database of complaints about products, but allow the commission to exclude sensitive business information.

Mattel last year recalled millions of Chinese-made toys that were found to be tainted with lead.

Mattel also lobbied on currency and trade measures, including proposals to address possible currency manipulation by China, among other issues, according to a disclosure form filed April 21 with the House clerk's office.