The lobbying industry enjoyed a record-breaking year in 2008, according to a report by the Center for Responsive Politics, a non-profit that tracks money in politics:

WASHINGTON–While companies across the board were losing record amounts of money and laying off employees last year, at least one industry seemed to weather the recession: lobbying. Special interests paid Washington lobbyists $3.2 billion in 2008, more than any other year on record and a 13.7 percent increase from 2007, the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics has found.

Analyzing 4th Quarter disclosure reports filed Jan. 20, the Center calculated that interest groups spent $17.4 million on lobbying for every day Congress was in session in 2008, or $32,523 per legislator per day.

Expect this trend to continue in 2009, as more dying corporations hire lobbyists to beg lawmakers for publicly funded rescues.