I thought that cash was a problem???


Northwest spends $1M in lobbying
Associated Press

August 17, 2005
WASHINGTON – Northwest Airlines spent $976,000 in lobbying expenses in the first six months of 2005, as the Eagan-based carrier pushed for pension relief legislation to help it stay out of bankruptcy.

NWA, which faces a strike by its mechanics as early as Saturday, says it needs both labor concessions and pension relief to avoid bankruptcy.

The airline listed the pension relief bill along with a host of other pieces of legislation on its most recent lobbying report. The reports do not break down how much money it spent on each bill, and Northwest declined to provide that information.

NWA and Delta Air Lines, both of which have underfunded pension plans, have lobbied for changes in law that would allow them to spread out pension payments over a longer period of time. That would help them avoid bankruptcy by saving cash.