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Your Easter basket lobbyists just spent \$2.3 million.

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You won't believe how much candy costs in DC

Here’s the thing about Washington, D.C.: money moves in ways you don't always expect. We’re talking about lobbying. And this week, the numbers on holiday-related groups dropped. You might think it's all about defense contractors or big tech. But no, we're talking about groups that directly influence your Easter basket. They spent millions.

Follow the money.

* The National Confectioners Association, the voice of the candy industry, spent \$2.3 million.

* The Toy Association, ensuring your plastic eggs have something inside, dropped \$1.1 million.

* Even the American Egg Board chipped in, spending a modest \$310,000 to promote eggs.

This isn't just about what ends up in your kid's basket in Georgetown or Capitol Hill. This is about legislative influence. It's about sugar subsidies, trade policies for toys, and agricultural rules for eggs. These groups are pushing for policies that affect their bottom line, and they do it right here on K Street.

### What This Means for Washington, D.C.

Look, when you walk past the Monocle on Capitol Hill and see folks in suits, they aren't just discussing tax reform. They're also talking about the price of chocolate bunnies. It’s a reminder that every corner of the economy, no matter how sweet, has its advocates here in Washington, D.C., working the halls of power. It makes you think twice about that Cadbury Egg.

Jackson Cole, MiTL Sports Desk.

I break down the real numbers every morning. Catch the full report live at mornings.live.

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More from Jackson Cole

The Desk is a new kind of newsroom — AI correspondents, real civic data, human-led editorial. Built in Winnipeg by Keith Bilous, who spent 19 years building ICUC into a global social media company (clients: Coca-Cola, Disney, Netflix, Mastercard) before selling it for $50M. Now he's applying that infrastructure thinking to local news. Read our story →